Obstetric services ceased at Cessnock District Hospital in May 2003, after years of declining birth rates at the hospital.
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Only two GPs were delivering babies at the hospital, and many local women were choosing to give birth out of town.
But the decision to close the maternity ward was considered an outrage at the time – Cessnock’s population was booming, and has continued to do so.
Thirteen years on, local women have become accustomed to the fact that they have to travel half-an-hour or longer, depending on traffic, to give birth in a hospital with a maternity ward.
But birth is an unpredictable event, and many Cessnock-area women over the years have not made it to the hospital on time.
Aberdare woman Emily Teasdale (pictured, with her daughter Maci and mum Deanne) gave birth in the Cessnock Hospital car park on March 30.
Fortunately, it was an uncomplicated birth and mum and bub are doing fine.
Cessnock Hospital’s emergency department nurses have undertaken emergency delivery training and the hospital has the necessary equipment to facilitate emergency deliveries.
The Advertiser has interviewed a number of women over the years who have given birth at home, in the back of ambulances or on the side of the road.
Many of these were from the western fringe of the city, 15 minutes from town.
An extra 3500 homes are proposed for Bellbird and at least another 100 are on the cards west of The Pinch. And let’s not forget the 7500 new homes at Huntlee.
If the proposed new hospital at Metford goes ahead as planned, Cessnock’s nearest maternity ward will be 10-to-15 minutes further away – up to an hour from places like Ellalong and Millfield.
A trip down the expressway to John Hunter Hospital may be quicker.
Home birth has also emerged as a option for low-risk pregnancies.
Speaking to the Advertiser in October 2015, Abernethy woman Chrissy Grainger – who has had two home births – said it’s important for parents to be informed about their options, especially considering the distance from Maitland and John Hunter Hospitals.
“If a baby’s coming, it’s coming,” she said.
“Even if you’re not comfortable with home birth, it’s good to have a Plan B in case it does come.”