Expecting mothers at the Macksville Hospital will be a little more comfortable after a generous donation from aspiring midwives.
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Southern Cross University and its midwifery students have donated six birthing stools to maternity units throughout the Mid North Coast.
The donation was made possible when the Southern Cross University Head of Coffs Harbour Campus Professor David Lynch offered to match the student midwives’ fundraising drive 'dollar for dollar'.
The midwifery students, from all three years of the Bachelor of Midwifery program at Coffs Harbour, fundraised enough money to buy three birthing stools, so Professor Lynch purchased three additional ones.
Maternity units at Kempsey District, Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Port Macquarie and Grafton – all where the University’s students undertake clinical placement - will each receive a birthing stool.
The clinical midwifery consultant for the Mid North Coast Local Health District, Frances Guy, gratefully accepted the University’s gift at the Coffs Harbour campus this week.
“This donation is simply wonderful,” Ms Guy said.
“These stools support women in the upright position during labour, which is better for the mother.
“Southern Cross and the student midwives, in making this donation, are supporting women and their birthing choices by providing them with equipment and resources that are easy to use and which support the mother in an optimal but adaptable upright birthing position."
Professor Lynch said Southern Cross University was pleased to give back to the local community.
“Our midwifery team, comprising Dr Elaine Jefford and Monica Carlon, are local pioneers in quality midwifery training and have forged strong partnerships with local maternity wards, making the midwifery course at Southern Cross highly sought after,” Prof Lynch said.