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Her name means “wishing star” and Hiwa-i-te-Rangi Broughton received star treatment after becoming the first baby to be born at Queensland’s newest hospital.
Beautiful Hiwa-i-te-Rangi was born at Mater Hospital Springfield at 11am on Wednesday, only three hours after parents Miriama and Remedi Broughton arrived at the facility’s maternity unit.
Ms Broughton was 38 weeks’ pregnant, but realised her second child was coming a little sooner than expected when she woke on Wednesday.
“The contractions woke me up and I knew straight away that my baby was coming,” Ms Broughton said.
“I rang my husband at work and told him to come home because we needed to go!”
The Spring Mountain couple live just minutes from the new hospital in Health Care Drive, Springfield Central, and admitted to one of its six birthing suites soon after arriving.
“Everyone seemed excited to be having the first birth in the hospital,” Ms Broughton said.
“The midwives were asking if any of their colleagues needed a break just so they could be there!
“We felt that we were in very safe hands, that’s for sure. We were pushing for an hour and a half and then our little girl was here.
“She’s just perfect and we are honoured that she is the hospital’s first baby.”
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi weighed 8lbs 5oz (3.77kg) and has delighted her big sister Te Waimaringi (2).
The Broughton family were showered with flowers and gifts – including free membership of the Springfield-based Brisbane Lions – to celebrate the arrival of the hospital’s first baby.
An estimated 1,700 babies a year will be delivered at the new maternity unit, which comprises six birthing suites, 16 patient rooms and 16 Neonatal Critical Care Unit cots.
Mater Hospital Springfield began a phased opening of services on Monday 13 April and will become fully operational later this month.
The hospital has been delivered through a $1 billion investment and partnership between the Queensland Government and Mater.
Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said Mater midwives, nurses and obstetricians were excited to welcome Springfield’s first Mater baby.
“Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is a beautiful baby girl and she has been a big hit with our midwifery team!” Ms Hawksley said.
“She is just the first of many thousands of babies who will be born at Mater Hospital Springfield.
“Until now local mums have had to travel to Brisbane, Ipswich or Logan to have their babies, so this
is a huge moment for Springfield families.
“We’re delighted to be providing a maternity service in the heart of the Springfield community.”
