CareFlight’s flight to Daly River earlier today was a mission that ended with smiles for our clinical team, and in particular Nurse and Midwife Nadine Tipping, who was part of the team that delivered a healthy baby boy just after 2.15pm at the Nauiyu Community Health Centre.

CareFlight received the call at 11.20am, and the fixed wing flight crew including flight nurse/midwife, landed at the airstrip at Daly River at 1pm, and headed straight to the health centre. The new Mum, who was supported by her family and community health workers from the clinic, was already in active labour when they arrived.

According to midwife Nadine Tipping, the young Mum, who had gone into labour four weeks early, was being supported by a great team and was managing the labour well.

“Mum did a great job, as did the team of health workers who were there, along with Mum’s family, to support and welcome the new baby. It was truly wonderful to deliver this beautiful baby boy in his community.

“The baby boy was born at 2.15pm, weighing just over three kilograms, cried and made his arrival known,” she said.

Once initial assessment of baby and Mum’s health was compete, CareFlight, operating the Top End Medical Retrieval Service on behalf of the Northern Territory Government, loaded the new Mum and her infant son onto the King Air for the return flight to Darwin.

Both Mum and baby were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital where they received ongoing care and assessment.