July 2005

Babies, have Mercy babies

Five sets of twins and a set of triplets are among the 400 new babies born at the new Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg.

The twins were born in the last half of May, and the triplets on June 17. The new, co-located Austin and Mercy Hospitals complex was opened on May 15.

Lara (1444 grams), Sasha (1454 grams) and Mia (1602 grams) were born—in that order—to Andrea Stupar and her husband Sankar Nadeson.

The girls are identical–probability of identical triplets is 100,000 to one—and were reported doing well by obstetrician Liz McCarthy.

Sienna Armstrong was one of the youngest babies born at the new hospital at just 24 weeks and six days, which is three months early.

Weighing in at just 727 grams, Sienna spent time in the new state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Between 5,500 and 6,000 babies are expected to be born a year, making it the largest maternity hospital in Victoria.

All other departments at the hospital are also fully operational.

The Gynaecological Oncology Unit has assisted dozens of patients like Emma Meehan since the relocation.

The new unit is one of only three specialist units in the state and offers comfortable and friendly surroundings for patients with seven chemotherapy chairs.

The Mercy Hospital for Women is part of Mercy Health and Aged Care, a Catholic community benefit organisation that operates public hospitals, aged care and community facilities and services across Victoria.

It is a tertiary referral centre dedicated to the treatment of women’s health by providing maternity, neonatal, gynaecology and specialist gynaecological services.

Mercy Hospital for Women is located at 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg.

• For more information about Mercy Hospital for Women visit www.mercy.com.au or phone 1300 729 039.