Baby Boom in Bourke

Bourke baby Penny McLean. Photo TWH

Bourke is buzzing with baby news, with the recent surge in births bringing joy to the local community.

Over the past few months, more than a dozen new babies have arrived home to Bourke and its surrounding communities, prompting a wave of visits, check-ups, and cheerful catch-ups led by Clinical Midwife Specialist Emma Howard, who is part of the Western NSW Local Health District’s rural outreach team.

“We’ve had about 13 babies in Bourke since May,” Ms Howard said. “I said to my colleague, ‘Why am I so bloody busy?’ And it’s because we’ve had this many babies.”

Ms Howard is based in Dubbo but travels to Bourke every fortnight for four days, delivering vital antenatal and postnatal care to new and expectant mothers across the region.

Due to the absence of local maternity services in Bourke, most women give birth in larger regional centres like Dubbo, then return home for follow-up care. Ms Howard and her team help ensure mothers and newborns are supported in the crucial early days.

“I go out and do medical checks for babies and mums,” she said. “They might have their babies in Dubbo or elsewhere, but they’re very much part of the Bourke community.” […]

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