Premature baby born in plane

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 1

Premature baby born in plane

PA Hamilton A Whangarei couple, Glenda and Barry Ashford, thought of travelling south for Labour Day week-end, but they did not plan to fly to Hamilton to have a baby. However, at 4.15 p.m. on Sunday, in a six-seater plane at Hamilton airport, Glenda gave birth to Mark Raymond, nine weeks prematurely. “We thought of visiting Rotorua for the week-end. We got near, but not in a way we quite expected or wanted,” said Mr Ashford. Mrs Ashford’s contractions started in Whangarei at 6.45 a.m. and she went to hospital to have the contractions stopped. Hospital staff decided it was best to transfer her to be near equipment which could best look after a premature baby. National Women’s Hospital in Auckland could'not accept her because they were too busy so three staff members were sent to Whangarei to accompany her to Waikato Women’s Hospital. The plane which was to bring the National Women’s staff to Whangarei was delayed by high winds for an hour.

During this time Mrs Ashford’s contractions stopped but started again just as the staff took her to Whangarei Airport. “Just as things started looking better when I got into the ambulance all sorts of things started over again,” she said. Mrs Ashford was airsick all the way to Hamilton. When the plane landed in Hamilton medical staff decided it was better for Mrs Ashford to wait 10 minutes and have the baby in the warm surroundings of the plane. “There were arms, legs, injections, medicine and oxygen tanks everywhere,” said Mr Ashford. The couple only recently arrived from Australia. Mr Ashford moved to Whangarei four months ago and his wife followed only a month ago. “What a welcome to New. Zealand for Glenda,” said Mr Ashford.. The couple plan to return to Australia in a few years so have decided they want to give the young Mark Australian citizenship. “He couldn’t play soccer in Australia if he was a Kiwi,” said his father. The couple’s two other children are still at home in Whangarei.

Hospital staff filled out unusual forms relating to the new baby. \ “One nurse asked where

he was born and had to write Hamilton Airport. Imagine the birth certificate — Bom: Hamilton Airport tarmac,” said Mr Ashford.