Cyclone sets off birthing storm

NINE months on from Cyclone Debbie, the consequences of two weeks without power and internet are rearing their little heads.

A baby boom at Proserpine Hospital has been attributed by staff to the Category 5 system tearing through the region, with 17 babies born there since December 21.

Cannonvale mum Danni Rowan had to bunker down in a general ward to deliver son Ari because the maternity ward didn’t have the room.

Soon after Debbie hit, a friend of Ms Rowan on Facebook posted an update when she realised she was pregnant.

“We must have been a bit bored during the cyclone because we now have a bun in the oven,” she wrote.

After two weeks without power and shaky internet, many left in the dark seemed to have come up with an ageold way to pass the time.

“There were four other women in the hospital when I went in to have Ari and all the birthing suites were taken so I had to take another room,” Ms Rowan said. “There were five babies born on the same day.”

For Kathryn Cygan, it was not until an eight- week ultrasound that the penny dropped surrounding the circumstances of her son Isaac’s conception.

“When I found out how far along I was at eight weeks, we counted backwards and realised it lined up with Debbie arriving,” she said.

“It has been a running joke throughout the pregnancy.”

Proserpine Hospital clinical midwifery manager Ruth Roberts said 17 babies had been born there since December 21.

Within 24 hours between December 21 and 22, five babies were born, she said.

Two were born on Christmas Day and another two on Boxing Day.

Three babies were born on New Year’s Day and another five arrived between January 2 and yesterday.