Big welcome for special baby
By EMMA DANGERFIELD - Kaikoura Star
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Kaikoura
Kaikoura's maternity unit is pleased to announce the arrival of its first "planned" birth, last week, marking the reopening of the unit which closed to planned births at the end of 2003.
Sonny-David Lyons was born at 7.27pm on Thursday evening, weighing in at a very healthy 9lb5, or 4.22kg.
His parents, who already have two other children, Reuben, 5, and Blaise, 3, said the experience had been fantastic.
"It's awesome that I could have my baby here and not have to make six trips down to Christchurch," said Cezanne.
"It's great to be so close to home – we've had heaps of visitors already.
"And the support has been overwhelming – a huge thanks to the whole team."
Midwife Justine Schroder and doctors Chris Henry and Emily Gill had been amazing, she said, as had all the nurses in the ward next door.
Her husband, Dave, agreed having Sonny-David in Kaikoura had made life much easier.
He said the facilities were great, providing a homely atmosphere with private kitchen and whanau room which meant he could stay overnight, something which is rare in larger hospitals.
And he was pleased that Cezanne could stay in the unit as long as she wanted without feeling rushed to get back home.
Reuben and Blaise could visit after school and hold their new brother, and it was just a short trip down the road to home when mother and baby left the hospital.
Justine Schroder said she had been involved in the re-establishment of the unit for the past 18 months which had been very exciting and something she felt privileged to have been a part of.
"It's absolutely fantastic that women are starting to have planned births here," she said.
"It's great that we can give women the opportunity to have their babies in their home town; it's good both for the women and the midwives and I'm looking forward to many more babies being born in Kaikoura."
Although the unit was always prepared for emergency births, it closed to planned births in December 2003 as more women were choosing to have their babies in Christchurch.
Another reason was that there were only two GP obstetricians in town at the time.
The unit is now set up to offer full ante and post-natal care for women in the district, providing a home away from home.
Two midwives are employed at the unit, and they have the back-up of the local GPs.
The unit will be officially opened with a grand opening and powhiri on November 13.
