Fairfield Hospital births continue to decline, against rising trend

While south-western Sydney is experiencing a baby boom, the number of babies born at Fairfield Hospital has declined.

Toby Harrison Stafford was Fairfield's last 2016 baby.Mum Casey Bertucci and dad Travis Stafford. Pics Ian Svegovic

While south-western Sydney is experiencing a baby boom, the number of babies born at Fairfield Hospital has declined.

A total of 1666 babies were born at Fairfield according to the NSW Mothers and Babies 2015 report released on January 1.

In 2014, that figure was 1888, down from 2001 in 2012.

Across the same period of time, the number of births in south west Sydney increased from 12,831 in 2011 to 13,214 in 2015.

The report also showed Fairfield had a much lower rate of caesarean sections than the state.

A total of 22.2 per cent of mothers at the local hospital gave birth via the procedure, compared to a rate of 32.4 per cent for the state.

Fairfield Hospital also recorded lower rates of epidural than the state average, with 22 per cent of mothers opting for that method of pain relief compared to 37.9 per cent across the state.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the State Government was committed to looking after the health of pregnant women and giving their babies the best start.

“I’m encouraged by the decrease in the number of women smoking during their pregnancies. That’s now in single digits, having dropped from more than 11 per cent in 2011 to 8.9 per cent in 2015,” she said.

“Of those mothers who did smoke, more than a quarter quit the habit early on in their pregnancy.”

Family’s final task of year

Toby Harrison Stafford was Fairfield's last 2016 baby.Mum Casey Bertucci and dad Travis Stafford. Pics Ian Svegovic

Toby Harrison Stafford came into the world to a flurry of fireworks as 2016 drew to a close.

Born at 11.27pm on December 31, Toby was Fairfield’s last baby of 2016. Mum and dad, Casey Bertucci and Travis Stafford of Cabramatta West, were expecting their bundle of joy on January 4.

“I was at home and I could feel it was going to happen soon,” Ms Bertucci said. “He came out with exactly the same haircut as his dad.”

Toby weighed 3.185kg and was born after about six hours of labour.

“One of the midwives who helped to deliver him also delivered me 26 years ago,” Ms Bertucci said.

“All the staff at Fairfield Hospital were amazing.”

He may be only a few days old, but Toby’s sporting future is already planned out, including swimming, athletics and rugby league.