Port Macquarie Base Hospital praised for timely discovery of unknown pregnancy, delivery of healthy baby

A woman who went to a Mid North Coast hospital emergency department complaining of abdominal pains has delivered a healthy baby she didn’t even know she was carrying.

Emma Fitzsimmons entered the emergency room of Port Macquarie Hospital last Tuesday with severe abdominal pains and left with a new baby. Seems like a fairly routine trip to the doctor, only Ms Fitzsimmons had no idea she was pregnant.

The new mum didn’t know what was causing the severe cramping and when the doctor revealed their family was about to get a new addition, she was slightly taken aback.

“They did a scan and noticed the baby’s spine,” she explained.

Understandably Ms Fitzsimmons and her partner Aaron asked them to double-check and it was confirmed there was definitely a new baby on the way.

Mum and dad with their new baby girl, Willow Rose, after an emergency C-section at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Scans revealed a gestation of 35.6 – just shy of the 40-week mark most babies are delivered at.

The new baby’s heart rate was dropping, so Ms Fitzsimmons was rushed to an emergency C-section.

“I was basically taken up to the birthing ward and surgery room straight away,” she said.

“We found out it was a healthy baby girl after she’d been born.

“She passed all her tests and checks with flying colours, scoring an Apgar of nine, and there wasn’t a single thing wrong with her.”

Ms Fitzsimmons and her partner Aaron were relieved to learn their new baby girl entered the world without any complications.

The proud mum said she’s grateful for the compassionate hospital staff who helped her through the journey, despite the pressures facing the healthcare industry across the Mid North Coast and beyond.

“I don’t really feel like I sat around waiting for anything – I was taken straight in,” she said.

“The level of care at this hospital is so different from anything I’ve seen before.

“I gave birth to my first son at Westmead and had the staff there try to force me into a C-section, which wasn’t what I wanted to do – I had to fight to get what I wanted.

“Whereas this hospital told me I had control over what happened to my body – they offered plenty of advice but, at the end of the day, reassured me that it was my decision.

Ms Fitzsimmons said, after giving birth, the nurturing staff continued to go above and beyond.

“At Westmead, I had rude nurses who would take so long to visit you after buzzing for their attention,” she explained.

“But, at Port Base, I’d press my button and the staff were there within minutes.

“They’d listen and get whatever you needed straight away, and have a genuine conversation to check in and see how you’re going.

“I’m just so thankful to have been treated so nicely.”

The high-quality care continued even after Ms Fitzsimmons left the hospital.

“I had our midwife send me a message on Facebook to check how we were going and find out what we’d named the baby girl,” she told The Mid North Coast News.

The young family settled on the name Willow Rose for the surprise bundle of joy.

They are settling in well at the moment but, like many locals, are struggling to find suitable housing in the area.

“We’re in a one-bedroom cabin and haven’t had any luck finding a rental since September last year,” Ms Fitzsimmons said.

“I’ve got another little two-year-old and he’s just going crazy in such a small space.

“Me and the two kids are sleeping in the bedroom, and my partner stays in the lounge room because we can’t all fit in the one double bed.”

Local healthcare workers are continuing to support the young family, with further efforts being made to help with accommodation.

“We’re really struggling with housing but there’s a social worker at the hospital who has been helping out,” Ms Fitzsimmons said.

“We also had two women come from another health service today to assist with referrals to other housing options too.

“Everyone’s helping us, so hopefully something comes up.”