BOOM, BOOM: Rachel Calder's twin girls Abby and Ava were part of a record number of babies born in Orange last year. Photo: LUKE SCHUYLER 0130lstwins
TWINS Ava and Abby Calder were part of the baby boom in Orange last year with a record number of babies born at the busy hospital.
In 2012, 993 bundles of joy were born at the hospital, the highest number on record and up on the former record of 955 from 2011.
The new record means there has been nearly a 30 per cent increase in the number of children born annually at Orange hospital in the 10 years since 2002.
The twins’ mother Rachel Calder, said she was not surprised Orange was recording a huge number of children being born and said it is a great place to raise children.
“Orange is a pretty good place to raise children compared to in the city where everything is so expensive,” she said.
“Here you can rent a house with a backyard and three bedrooms for the same price you’d get a unit in Sydney.
“I think I’ve done my thing for Orange’s population.”
Orange Health Service director of nursing and midwifery Sue Patterson said there are a number of factors which have contributed to the boom.
She said population growth and the quality of services offered in Orange attract outside parents to the hospital.
“Approximately one third of the babies born here in 2012 were to parents from outside of our local government area,” she said.
Ms Patterson said the number of staff employed in the women’s and infants’ unit has increased over the last decade to cope with the increased demand on services.
Single mother Ms Calder said it has been a busy five months since her twins were born on August 27, 2012.
“I’m really, really lucky, they’re pretty good and they sleep through,” she said.
“It’s challenging, they keep me on my toes but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
BOOM, BOOM: Rachel Calder's twin girls Abby and Ava were part of a record number of babies born in Orange last year. Photo: LUKE SCHUYLER 0130lstwins