THE birth of Harper Jordan Chapman will mean many things to her Melton parents Siobhan and Gavin – boundless love coupled with sleep deprivation, a sister for older daughter Skyler, fond smiles from relatives and a new little person to visit the family GP.
For Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital, Harper’s June 25 birth marked a major milestone: for the first time in the hospital’s 57-year history, 1000 babies were welcomed in a calendar year.
Djerriwarrh Health Services CEO Bruce Marshall said the hospital had experienced a significant increase in the number of births.
It is expected to continue in future years due to the many young families moving into Melton and Moorabool.
SEE: New Arrivals picture gallery.
Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said given that Melton was among the fastest-growing cities in Australia, with 42 babies born each week, maternity facilities needed to reflect this. “It’s wonderful there’s so much growth, but we need to make sure we’re keeping up.”
Hospital data shows that in the past 12 months, there was a 12 per cent increase in the number of babies delivered at the hospital, from 912 births to well in excess of 1000.
Birth numbers have risen 47.1 per cent since 2008-09, when there were 620 births.
Mr Marshall said the hospital was coping well with the baby boom.
In 2009, the hospital received $2 million from the federal government to upgrade maternity ward facilities.
He said the hospital prided itself on options available to mothers with low-risk pregnancies, such as a shared-care model with a mother’s doctor or a midwife through Maternity@Melton.
