Meet the new faces of Victoria, born at the Royal Women’s Hospital

As 2023 begins, we meet four bundles of joy who arrived at the Royal Women’s Hospital in the final week of 2022.

Zema, Millie, Mohammed and Louis at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Picture: Mark Stewart

The signs are there for Zema Anley to one day be a star of the stage.

That may be as a singer or in a choir if she follows in her mother’s footsteps.

First-time Melbourne mum Kalkidan Anley (31) gave birth to Zema at The Royal Women’s Hospital on Christmas Day.

Zema arrived late that Sunday evening on 25 December, a perfect gift weighing 3.9kg who her mother describes as happy and healthy.

She named her daughter Zema, which means “music”.

“I used to sing in a church choir and when a friend heard I was having a little girl, they said I should call her Zema,” Ms Anley said. “They said she is your music now.”

She is music to her mother’s ears.

First-time mum Kallkidan Anley with her daughter, Zema. Picture: Mark Stewart

Life’s a field of dreams

Watch out for a future AFL champ with the surname Mohammed.

At the moment, baby Mohammed, who was born at The Royal Women’s Hospital on Tuesday, might be a little small and can still snuggle easily into his mother’s loving arms.

But his father Imran Mohammed can see big things in his future.

A future, he says, in which baby Mohammed and his big brother Hamdan feature on the footy field.

While yet to be given a first name, baby Mohammed joins a loving Broadmeadows family that includes siblings Anayah (4) and Hamdan (15 months).

Hamdan has digestive issues that require regular treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital up the road in Parkville.

Mum Nazia Parveen, 27, says the regular hospital visits have inspired sister Anayah to want to become a doctor when she grows up.

Nazia Parveen and Mohammed Imran, with daughter Anayah, 4, and son Hamdan, 15 months months, and their new baby boy, Mohammed. Picture: Mark Stewart

“She goes to all of Hamdan’s appointments and watches and copies everything the doctors do,” Mrs Parveen says.

Originally from India, the family moved to Melbourne four years ago where Mr Mohammed, 31, now works for Uber.

With most of their extended family living in India, theirs is a busy household, but the young couple say they wouldn’t have it any other way.

As the family prepares to return home, baby Mohammed calmly takes it all in; closely watching his older brother in the arms of his dad. He starts to cry softly, but attentive Anayah is on hand, quick to soothe the newest addition of the family by gently stroking his face as she has watched her mother do moments earlier.

Asked if they had special plans to celebrate the New Year, Mrs Parveen looked at her family and said: “this is all we need.”

Rosie and James Gilchrist, from South Yarra, with son Louis. Picture: Mark Stewart

Lofty goals for Louis

If his father has his way Louis Gilchrist could grow up – and up – to perhaps become a basketball star.

Proud first-time dad James Gilchrist, 32, didn’t need to think twice when asked what he hoped Louis would grow up to become.

“He is pretty tall,” Mr Gilchrist says, offering Louis’ birth weight of 3.798kg and 55cm in length as proof of his son’s potential.

First-time mum Rosie Gilchrist, 32, says the family was taken by surprise at Louis’ size, after her baby boy was born last Wednesday at the Royal Women’s Hospital via emergency caesarean.

They chose the name Louis because they liked it, although it was also the name of Mr Gilchrist’s great grandfather.

Louis arrived five days late on December 28, a special belated Christmas gift for his first-time grandparents on both sides.

“There is a lot of excitement in the family,” Mrs Gilchrist says, stroking Louis’ strawberry blond hair.

That’s one thing the South Yarra dermal therapist and her husband, who works in construction, are not surprised by.

“A strawberry blond – like his dad,” Mrs Gilchrist said.

Michelle and Guy Harris with daughter Millie. Picture: Mark Stewart

Little Millie in a hurry

As Michelle Harris watched over her sleeping newborn daughter on their first night together on Thursday, a thought crossed her mind; albeit briefly – but it made her smile.

“I was lying there thinking, in the future I am going to have a 15-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son in the house,” the veterinary practice manager said, adding with a laugh that she hoped they would get on well.

Michelle gave birth to Millie Kate at The Women’s early on Thursday morning.

Millie was born in a hurry, her mother saying she was fully dilated when she arrived at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Parkville and Millie was born a little over an hour later.

“I called my parents to come and look after (son) Harry and we came here,” Mrs Harris said. “Millie was born on her due date of December 29 at 7.09am.”

Dad Guy, a development manager, said it all happened very quickly as he tenderly cradled a sleeping Millie in his arms as the family prepared to return to their home in Clifton Hill on Friday.

As parents of a baby girl born at the end of one year and the start of another, Mr and Mrs Harris said they hadn’t really had time to think about their hopes and dreams for their daughter, but know they want both her and Harry to be good citizens.

Big brother Harry, 3, met Millie for the first time on Friday, but had already declared he loved her names.

“Guy named her,” Mrs Harris said. “I named Harry so he picked Millie and Kate is my middle name.”

It is going to be a busy time for the family as Mrs Harris will also complete her studies in dietetics in the next few months.

But on Friday as the family went home to also introduce Millie to two other important boys in her life: Kevin the cat and Trevor the dog, Mrs Harris that said for now they were looking forward to some quiet family time.

Midwives say it’s a passion, not a job

Maddi Watts, 28, Graduate Midwife

She happily shares that she treasures all the cards from families who have written to thank her for helping to deliver their babies.

“I’ve also had two babies named after me,” Maddi Watts says with pride. “Well, the name Maddi was on their shortlist and when they met me they decided it was a sign.”

Ms Watts has been a graduate midwife at The Women’s since May 2021, saying she was attracted to the profession because she has always been passionate about women’s health.

After completing a double degree in nursing and midwifery, Ms Watts started her career at the peak of the Covid pandemic.

“It has been challenging,” she said. “But I love what I do. I am a strong feminist and my mum wanted me to become a doctor, but I had friends doing midwifery and they really inspired me to follow this path.”

Sarah McGrath, 23, Graduate Midwife

Joining the profession during a pandemic has definitely been challenging, but Sarah McGrath says she sees her future in midwifery.

She likes the versatility, with rotations during her training allowing her to gain experience in post-natal care, the birth centre and elective surgery.

In 2022 Ms McGrath was one of the many healthcare workers at The Women’s helping to provide care to women who delivered 8083 babies that included 155 sets of twins and seven sets of triplets.

While March was the busiest month for births at The Women’s and May 17 the day with the most deliveries (32 babies were born at The Women’s that day), Ms McGrath says that every day is special and no two days are the same.

Mia Aghan, 22, Graduate Midwife

It was the popular TV comedy-drama Offspring that inspired Mia Aghan to become a midwife straight out of high school.

Filmed in Melbourne, the show centred on a young obstetrician Nina Proudman and her family.

“I loved it,” Ms Aghan said. “And I love midwifery. You come to work and you get to be part of such a massive point in someone’s life and they remember us.”

Ms Aghan said that on the days when she was working in the birth centre at The Women’s she gets to be part of a delivery about every two days.

“When we are on caesareans, you look at the dads and they are crying, it is very special,” she said.