BY NATALIE GALLENTI
SUNSHINE Hospital is in the middle of a baby boom, according to figures revealed by Western Health last week.
The number of births in the maternity unit has skyrocketed by 26 per cent in the past two years, with experts estimating the number will reach almost 4500 this financial year.
Data showed that in 2007/08 the number of births was just over 3400 and there has been a significant increase in the past three years.
By 2011/12 health experts are estimating almost 5000 births per year at the hospital.
Western Health’s divisional director of women’s and children’s services Susan Gannon attributed the increase to a huge population growth in the west, particularly in Melton Shire and Wyndham.
Ms Gannon said many patients were being turned away from Werribee Mercy Hospital because its birthing facilities had almost reached capacity.
“The growing population in the West is being reflected in the increased birth rate at Sunshine Hospital,” Ms Gannon said.
“This is supported by a new Special Care Nursery which is currently being built with 26 cots in the new building at the front of the hospital.”
She dismissed suggestions that the increase was due to a rapid turnaround, with many mothers choosing to be discharged as early as four hours after they gave birth.
“If you look closely at the research, women are better off at home with a midwife visiting them on a regular basis.
“Women are often more relaxed at home, it just depends on the individual.”
Ms Gannon said Sunshine Hospital had the largest caseload midwifery team in Victoria.
A caseload is when women opt for their own midwife both during the pregnancy, at birth and post-natally.
And she said more women were opting for home births, with 60 performed in the past year and another 100 booked in for the next financial year.
The experienced midwife said the hospital was well equipped to cope with the increased number of births and had recently employed new midwives and health consultants to keep up with demand.
However a health plan released by the State Government last week found that the high population growth in the region was putting strain on already stretched services.
The Health Priorities Framework 2012/22: Metropolitan Health Plan predicted the situation would only worsen with more than 10,000 new residents expected to move into the area in the next decade.
