EXPECTANT mothers in Katherine wanting a water birth will no longer have to head north on the Stuart Highway to access the facilities needed to make the wish a reality.
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During a visit to town on July 17, Health Minister John Elferink announced that a $107,000 maternity ward refurbishment had now put water births back on the agenda for Katherine mothers.
A specialised 750-litre birthing bath has been installed at Katherine Hospital, with staff currently undergoing training to allow water births to commence later this year.
Mr Elferink said Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe had “tackled him in a corridor” to ensure that the funding had been made available.
For Katherine mother Mellyssa Tracey, the timing of the refurbishment could not have been better.
“I’ve got three friends who have had water births and they said it was a lot more relaxing,” she explained.
“Come Christmas time, I’ll be using this one.”
Mr Westra van Holthe said the bath – towards which community groups contributed $10,500 – gave mothers more options in their own backyard.
“It’s all about building the Katherine Hospital’s capability and capacity,” he said.
“It’s also about adding things to what is the best maternity ward in the Northern Territory.”
