July has been pure joy for families and staff at Mater Mothers’ Private Townsville, after a record-breaking 74 babies were born throughout the month.
Midwifery Unit Manager Rebekah Barrie said the baby boom had smashed the Hyde Park maternity unit’s previous record of 66 babies in a month, set in February 2022.
“We usually have around 50 births a month, so July was an exceptionally busy time for everyone,” Ms Barrie said.
“But it’s been wonderful to welcome so many new babies into the world.
“Our midwives, nurses and obstetricians have been amazing – as have our mums and babies!”
Ms Barrie said the unit had known well in advance that July would be busy, but no one has been able to pinpoint a reason for the sudden baby bounce.
As well as Townsville, women from Mackay, Cairns, Cloncurry, the Whitsundays and Thursday Island birthed at Mater Mothers’ last month.
Shannon and Lisa Hall welcomed baby Miles on Monday 28 July and went home to Cosgrove with their bundle of joy on Friday afternoon.
“Miles is doing so well – he’s better than we ever imagined,” Ms Hall said.
“He just wants to be loved and cuddled and fed. We’re loving being in the baby bubble with him.
“Even though there were a lot of babies born last week, our stay in Mater Mothers’ was surprisingly quiet! The staff were so calm and professional and provided the best care for us.”
More than 20 midwives work at Mater Mothers’ Private Townsville at Hyde Park, alongside five private obstetricians.
The team will relocate to a new $30m purpose-built maternity unit at Mater’s Pimlico campus in February 2026, equipped with three birthing suites, six special care nursery cots and a dedicated maternity patient lounge.
Mater Private Hospital Townsville General Manager Steph Barwick thanked North Queensland families for placing their care with Mater’s nursing, midwifery and obstetrics team.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our dedicated staff, who always put our families and babies first,” Ms Barwick said.
“It’s been a happy month in many ways, but we’re also thinking of the families who face heartbreak in their pregnancy journey.
“One of the couples we were looking after sadly lost their baby girl, Madeline Rose, at 36 weeks.
“While we celebrate all the new arrivals, our thoughts and prayers are with baby Madeline Rose and her family.”
