QUEENSLAND FLOOD CRISIS SAW SOME SPECIAL DELIVERIES

Krystle Henry, partner Matt and baby Angus

Felicity with baby Andrew

Felicity being rescued to go into hospital to deliver her baby

Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane has been deluged with babies as the city and surrounds battled the recent floods.
Two mums gave birth to their “miracle babies” at the hospital after local heroes rescued them from flood waters surrounding their homes.
Heavily pregnant and with water rising up the driveway of her Taringa home, Krystle Henry was kayaked to dry land, thanks to a kind and quick-thinking neighbour.
Ms Henry and her partner Matt Bridges welcomed their baby boy, Angus, at Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane at 7.30am on Tuesday, weighing 3.7kg.
Mr Bridges said he would be forever grateful to his neighbour.
“We didn’t know Rob, but he was more than happy to help us out and I’m so thankful Angus arrived safely,” he said.
Mater obstetrician Dr Paul Conaghan said he had never delivered a baby in such chaotic circumstances.
“Considering the situation, Krystle and Matt remained very calm. I couldn’t imagine being 39 weeks pregnant and stuck in flood waters,” he said.
For Sherwood couple, Felicity and Alex Jacques, it was the local SES team who transported them to safety only hours before their baby boy, Andrew Jacques, arrived, also on Tuesday, weighing 3.35kg.
They were at Mr Jacques’ mother’s home but were forced to call for SES help when water had risen close to the top of the nearby traffic lights.
“The SES took us safely to dry land at Toowong,” Mrs Jacques said. “We stayed at a hotel near the hospital overnight and I went into labour in the early hours of the next morning.
“I hate to think what would have happened if we weren’t close to the hospital.”
Meantime two Brisbane sisters also braved flood waters and traffic chaos to welcome their newborn babies who arrived days apart at the Mater.
Kate Albion of Upper Kedron, and Jessica Lane, of Ferny Hills, said their “flood babies” were extremely lucky and their birth stories were unforgettable – with the obstetrician stuck in traffic and unable to deliver Ms Albion’s baby.
“Everything happened so quickly for us and we were so lucky we had another obstetrician step in and great care by the midwives and nurses,” Ms Albion said.
The pair, who already share a very close bond, are now closer than ever with their babies having to spend some time in the Special Care Nursery at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
Ms Albion’s son, Joseph, was born unable to breathe on his own, and Ms Lane’s daughter, Isobel, had fluid on her lungs, but both newborns are now thriving.
Driving through torrential rain on Tuesday to get to the hospital, Ms Albion gave birth to her second child Joseph at 3.30pm weighing 3.3kg.
“There was so much rain and we were lucky to get to the hospital,” Ms Albion said.
“I’m so glad we were there because Joseph ended up coming so fast. Even our obstetrician ended up being stuck in traffic and missed the delivery.”
Ms Albion said it was also “pretty cool” having her sister on the same ward, with Ms Lane having given birth to a baby girl, Isobel, just three days earlier.
Mater Mother’s Hospital Chief Operating Officer, Paula Foley said many mums and families had gone to unforeseen lengths to get to the hospital to have their babies in the past week.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful time for many of our new mums and dads, but we’ve had 188 babies born at Mater Mothers’ South Brisbane in the past week, despite the flooding,” she said.
Mater Mothers’ Hospitals is Australia’s largest maternity services provider, with more than 12 000 babies born every year.