Toowoomba obstetrician’s 300th local baby delivery born with two knots in umbilical cord

Dr David Chettle has delivered 300 babies during his short time in Toowoomba. But with his milestone delivery created an occurrence he had never seen before.

Little Stella Weier was a milestone delivery for experienced Toowoomba obstetrician Dr David Chettle, so it’s almost appropriate her birth produced something he had never seen before.

The beautiful daughter of Kristy and Simon Weier, who was Dr Chettle’s 300th birth since he set up Evolve Women’s Health inside St Vincent’s Private Hospital, was born with two true knots in her umbilical cord.

The rare occurrence can be extremely dangerous for the baby and potentially lead to a stillbirth.

“I’d never seen it before, a baby with two knots,” he said.

“Babies basically get tangled up when they’re little and they flip around.

“The thing that’s scary is they can actually be stillborn.”

Stella Weier, born on Australia Day at St Vincent's Hospital is already setting records having been the 300th baby born for Dr David Chettle of Evolve Obstetrics Toowoomba. Stella is the second child of Kristy and Simon Weier.

Despite the odds, Stella was born happy and healthy on Australia Day.

Mrs Weier said she became amazed when she saw the umbilical cord herself.

“It makes her kind of a medical miracle baby — it’s pretty rare, so we’re very lucky,” she said.

Mrs Weier, whose son was also delivered by Dr Chettle in 2019, said she chose to work with an obstetrition for her pregnancies to ensure she had consistency.

Knowing you had the same doctor every visit. 

“Nothing is too big or small for him – he’s happy to take on everything that you need, all of your requests,” she said.

“His sense of humour is great, he’s very laid back.”

Stella Weier, born on Australia Day at St Vincent's Hospital is already setting records having been the 300th baby born for Dr David Chettle of Evolve Obstetrics Toowoomba. Stella is the second child of Kristy and Simon Weier.

Dr Chettle said it was a great way to celebrate 300 Toowoomba, which he said was remarkable given he had only set up the business less than three years ago.

“I celebrate every birth – I love births, it’s an awesome experience, (but) it just seemed to come very quickly, having been opened for less than three years,” he said.

“You don’t get a birth for quite a bit of time, because people don’t come to you 40 weeks pregnant, they come to you at 10 weeks or so.

“I didn’t realise until the day before, I knew where I was roughly because I have a record of all women and their babies.”

For more information about the practice, head to evolvewomenshealth.com.au.