Families of prem babies demand more paid parental leave

Baby Evelyn weighed just 600 grams when she was born and spent so long in hospital her mum’s paid parental leave had run out before they were home.

Danni Menzies with daughters Elsie, 3, and Evelyn, 1, who was born at 29 weeks. Picture: Alison Wynd

Danni Menzies’ baby was born so prematurely that her paid maternity leave had run out before the she even made it out of hospital.

The Winchelsea mother gave birth to her second daughter, Evelyn, at just 29 weeks after a dangerous blood clot formed in the placenta.

Evelyn, known as Evy, experienced severe foetal growth restriction, with no amniotic fluid around her and weighed just 602 grams at birth.

Baby Evelyn was born prematurely at just 29 weeks

Evelyn spent 132 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Melbourne,

But for Ms Menzies, her daughter’s serious medical complications were not her only worry.

She used up her paid maternity leave and government payments while her daughter was still seriously sick and Ms Menzies was unable to return to work.

“The finance side of things was really awful,” Ms Menzies said.

“We had to ring the bank and move our mortgage to a principle only (loan).”

Ms Menzies is one of more than 10,000 people who signed a petition in 2023 calling for proposed legislation changes to support families with a premature or sick baby requiring medical care for more than two weeks.

Baby Evelyn spent 132 days in the neonatal intensive care unit in Melbourne

Receiving an additional payment would ensure families did not use their government paid parental leave while their baby remained hospital.

While additional leave is now offered to government workers, families are now demanding the additional payment be accessible to all.

“It would really benefit people like us because money is a stressor in any crisis and especially when you don’t know when child will be home from hospital,” Ms Menzies said.

“It was extremely traumatic and the last thing you want to worry about is how you pay bills at the end of the week.”

Ms Menzies only returned to work when Evy turned 18-months and said care for her daughter remained ongoing.

While Evelyn is cheeky, she experiences some developmental delays and just learned to walk at the age of two.

“Overall we’ve been very lucky, she’s healthy and is getting stronger every day,” Ms Menzies said.

Baby Evelyn spent 132 days in the neonatal intensive care unit in Melbourne

Miracle Babies Foundation chief executive officer Kylie Pussell said additional paid leave to support parents of a child born prematurely, or who spent more than weeks in hospital, would make a significant difference to lives.

“For parents of premature and sick babies, the NICU journey is not just emotionally and physically exhausting — it can also be financially devastating,” she said.

Minister for social services Amanda Rishworth would not say if the government was considering making additional leave available, but said families already had access to extra payments.

“I understand the unique challenges faced by families who have experienced the birth of a premature or sick newborn – and it’s important they are supported,” she said.

“Over the past three years, the Albanese Labor Government has delivered the biggest expansion to Paid Parental Leave since Labor first introduced the scheme in 2011.”

Originally published as Families of prem babies demand more paid parental leave