Cath Ryan (District Clinical Midwife Consultant) said that number is a little down from previous years (137 in 2014).

“This is reflected across the whole western area,” Cath said.

“We had 3370 in 2015 compared to 3485 in 2014.”

There were two sets of twins - the Nusipepa twins in June and the Carrall twins in September.

The most popular girls names were Mia and Ruby, Carter and Jacob were popular for boys.

Cath said Parkes maternity continues its excellence in midwifery care.

“The unit boasts the lowest prelabour intervention rate in the western Local Health District of 8% compared to the next best of 23%,” she said.

“The new deep labour and birthing baths are proving to be very popular with the women who have birthed at the new site to date.”

Cath said the Continuity of Midwifery Care model called KYM = Know Your Midwife commences on Monday.

“All women booking to Parkes will have a dedicated midwife who will work with them throughout their pregnancy, birthing experience and postnatal care at home,” she said.

“The Midwives will be working independently of the outdated shift work model of ‘sick patients’ -  instead recognising pregnancy is a normal, well, healthy period during a woman's life.”

The care and consultation will be centred around the individual needs of the woman and her family.

Women are encouraged to contact the maternity unit at around 10 weeks of pregnancy to book into the KYM program (68612431). 

We have compiled a gallery of the babies who featured in the paper in 2015. 

Enjoy!