April 2008

Parents praise Yarrawonga service and staff

Although her second baby was due, Angela Blight of Bundalong planned to relax on the banana lounge by Lake Mulwala on Easter Sunday watching husband Chris water ski.

But that was far from what took place because Jacinda Jean Frances Blight wanted to be around when the Easter Bunny arrived.

And Jacinda couldn’t wait until she was in the Yarrawonga District Hospital to be delivered.

It all happened in the hospital’s carpark at 1.17 a.m. on Easter Sunday.

Weighing 3.4kg (7lb 9oz), Jacinda was the first Easter baby in regional Victoria, according to Yarrawonga District Health Service’s director clinical services Terry Welch.

‘Jacinda was ‘beaten’ by two minutes by a baby in Melbourne,’ he said.

Beforehand, mum Angela woke at midnight.

‘I rang the hospital at 20 past 12. Every 10 minutes I was having mild contractions.

‘At 20 to 1 I woke Chris.

‘Chris put our bags in the car. I had a whoppa of a contraction. I rang again and said we are going to come in.’

Chris, 43, had one hand on the wheel of the Nissan Tida and the other was holding his wife’s hand.

‘Chris told Lorrie (midwife Lorrie Lee) my waters had broken.

 ‘I’m pushing, I said,’ Angela said.

‘I could hear her on the phone!’ Ms Lee chipped in.

Arriving in the hospital carpark, Chris sprinted and rang the doorbell.

‘I could see Lorrie and Chris running towards the car,’ Angela said.

‘The head’s out, I said!

‘I still had my pyjamas on!’

Ms Lee’s plan was to deliver the baby up on to Angela’s chest but because mum was on her hands and knees on the car’s front seat that was difficult.

‘It was quite a sight.

‘I freed the chin and the baby just bounced out.

‘I caught it in the slips!’ Ms Lee said.

Angela said she was in shock.

‘I couldn’t believe I just had my baby in my car.’

News of the newborn travelled fast.

‘I got so many congratulatory calls by 5 a.m. that day,’ Chris said. 

The parents praised the performance of the Yarrawonga District Health Service.

‘They have wonderful nursing staff and I thought how lucky I was to have a great service,’ Angela said.

‘Lorrie was great.’

Chris echoed his wife’s sentiments.

Mr Welch also paid tribute to the midwife involved in the delivery.

‘Lorrie deserves credit.

‘We are fortunate to have her services and skills.

‘We do have a wonderful nursing staff and this is an example how they can adapt,’ Mr Welch said.