According to local pediatrician and founder of charity Our Kids, Dr Chris Ingall, the day of your birth is the most dangerous day of your life, next to the day you die. 

That’s why the new gift of a new wireless CTG machine for the Women’s Care Unit at Lismore Base Hospital is a blessing for all the women in our community who will be giving birth locally - and particularly for those giving birth in water.

Dr Ingall said the machine increases the chance of saving babies lives. 

The new life-saving machine has been on the wish list for the hospital for a while now, with the Our Kids charity fundraising to purchase two of the machines since November last year.

But Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista said since the usual Our Kids fundraising events were postponed due to Covid-19, it has been much more difficult for the charity to continue its support for the hospital. 

Bring on the Seaton Foundation.

Lismore Base Hospital Director of Nursing Narelle Gleeson said the Foundation members have donated $40,000 to help purchase one new wireless CTG machine for the hospital. 

It is expected the machine will be in place in the next few weeks.

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Lismore Base Hospital Director of Nursing Narelle Gleeson.

Dr Ingall said the wireless CTG machine helps the medical and midwifery team monitor the vital signs of mother and baby during labour. 

“It is the most sensitive heart rate indicator we have and tells us how well a baby is travelling during labour,” he said. 

“Survival rates increase when we use one – it allows doctors to make decisions to prevent mortality and treat the mother and child in a timely way, picking up on the early signs of distress.”

Being wireless, the machine can be used during a water birth and also allow women to be mobile during labour. 

“Mothers can be free to move around the birth suite room, in or out of the water as they please, to make their birthing experience both more effective and less painful,” he said.

Rebekka thanked the directors of the Seaton Foundation for their “generous support which will be so beneficial for many families in our region”. 

Belinda Seaton of the Seaton Foundation, said the organisation is a strong ambassador for groups that aim to improve and benefit the community. 

“We are proud to be supporting Our Kids to assist in changing the lives of people living in our Northern Rivers community,” Belinda said.