TWINS Dominic and Lucas Tiefel were among 16 sets of twins and 1033 babies born at Orange Health Service last year.
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Dominc and Lucas were born to Rohanne and Philip Tiefel of Orange on Monday, December 15.
Mrs Tiefel was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy and had to visit the Nepean Hospital in Penrith following her six-month scan.
Subsequent scans and tests were taken in Orange with the results sent to Sydney for monitoring, due to concern over Lucas’ growth.
“We cannot fault them at all,” Mrs Tiefel said of her Orange hospital experience.
“I was up there three times a week getting ultrasounds and monitoring to make sure they were A-okay.”
The twins were born three weeks early, with Dominic weighing 2640 grams and Lucas weighing 1760 grams at birth.
Mrs Tiefel and her boys spent 12 days in hospital following the birth and midwives conducted home visits for post-natal testing.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery Sue Patterson said there was one less baby born at the hospital last year than in 2013, however, two more mothers gave birth, with fewer twins born in 2014.
“We have 50 per cent that came out of the 2800 postcode and the other 50 per cent travel,” Ms Patterson said.
She said some of those who came from outside Orange came for the high level of care provided and sometimes because their family was in Orange.
Ms Patterson said service delivery has also been enhanced dramatically in the last 12 months with expansion of clinics, the case load model of care, mothers’ being able to choose midwife-led care and being able to have the same midwife throughout pregnancy, delivery and post birth.
“We commenced water births last year. Probably one in 10 take that option up but its good pain relief for you when you are in labour to have water or the shower pouring on you, which is what we’ve got,” she said.
“I think the exciting thing for us is we’ve been able to attract a new midwifery unit manager (Angela Grundy). She started in the last two months, she’s known internationally and in Australia.”
The hospital also recently received a new special care nursery camera so if a baby needs special care it can be done while the baby is in transit.
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au