Mothers and Babies

Together we can help our tiniest and most vulnerable patients.

Sadly, not all pregnancies go to plan, which is why Mater Mothers’ Hospitals are equipped to care for any mother and baby needing emergency support during pregnancy.

Eight per cent* of Australian babies are born prematurely and many others will experience serious complications while they are still in the womb. Parents of these tiny, vulnerable babies face days, weeks and sometimes months of worry and uncertainty.

Luckily for these parents, Mater is leading the way in maternity care for women and families across Queensland and beyond. Since 1906, Mater has been providing exceptional care to every patient who walks through its doors, and has been delivering babies since 1961.

As well as providing the very best in care, Mater researchers are working around the clock to find new and improved treatments for vulnerable mothers and babies.

Areas of focus include developmental disorders, gestational diabetes, epigenetics, complications and emergency care in pregnancy, models of healthy maternity care, maternal-fetal medicine, newborn care, acute care in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit, growth and development and women’s postnatal health, including mental health.

Your fundraising can ensure these vulnerable babies are given the best possible start to life.

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All every new parent wants is the
very best for their new baby.

Together we can help premature babies like Eadie.

Sarah-Jayne knows first-hand the importance of being able to access the specialised equipment and service.

After two years of trying to fall pregnant, mum Sarah-Jayne was finally told she would be a mother. But at her 20 week scan, she was diagnosed with stage four Placenta Previa—her placenta was completely covering her cervix. This is an extremely dangerous diagnosis.

Seven weeks later, Sarah-Jayne suffered a bleed while at work and was rushed to Mater Mother’s Hospitals and kept under observation for two days.

“This was a really stressful time for us,” said Sarah-Jayne. “27 weeks would have been really early to have our baby,” Sarah-Jayne said.

Little did they know that in just three weeks, Sarah-Jayne and Michael would become parents.

At 30 weeks Sarah-Jayne experienced another bleed—except this time, it was much bigger. Michael called an ambulance and they were rushed to Mater Mothers’ Hospitals, lights and sirens the whole way.

Baby Eadie was born less than an hour later and remained in the NCCU for 52 days. When she first arrived, Eadie was intubated because she couldn't breathe on her own and was then put on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for two weeks because she was too small and weak to sustain her breathing. Her tiny body relied on specialised equipment to keep her alive.

Babies born prematurely, just like Eadie, can’t breathe on their own, be touched or even be breastfed. It can be a challenging and emotional time, but for Sarah-Jayne the care provided at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals’ made it a lot more bearable.

“If it wasn’t for the specialist equipment, doctors and nurses at Mater, I’d hate to think what might have happened.”

“Every piece of equipment in Mater’s NCCU is specialised and specific to supporting premature babies.

Your fundraising can make all the difference and help babies like Eadie get home sooner.

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