Australian fitness mum gives birth to little miracle
Wednesday 13 July 2022
Sunshine Coast Insta-famous fitness influencer Emily Kate Robinson has had a sudden introduction to motherhood, giving birth to her baby girl more than three months early, weighing not much more than a loaf of bread.
Lilly Kate was born via an emergency caesarean at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, weighing just 800g.
Now, three weeks on and more than 100km from her home at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast, Emily Kate and her partner Keenan Algie said the around-the-clock care at Mater Mothers’ had given them confidence Lilly Kate would overcome her challenges after arriving 14 weeks early.
Emily Kate, a qualified personal trainer who specialises in women’s health, said her daughter’s unexpected arrival on June 22, came as a “complete shock”.
“Learning to navigate motherhood while my baby is in the hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has been at times challenging but also rewarding. I love watching her get bigger and stronger,” she said.
“When Lilly Kate was born at just 26 weeks, her heartbeat was strong, and I was healthy. I never once thought she wasn’t going to make it. She’s a fighter. I actually didn’t know anything about premature babies until I gave birth to Lilly Kate.”
Mater Mothers’ Hospitals have one of Australia’s largest Neonatal Critical Care Units, providing compassionate and holistic care to seriously ill and premature babies.
According to Mater Mothers’ Acting Director of Neonatology Dr Luke Jardine, a baby born at 26 weeks is given about an 85 per cent chance of surviving.
Emily Kate said she was in awe of her little girl’s strength and determination to survive.
“I went to hospital on the Sunshine Coast with painful contractions. I had been feeling a bit off for few days prior to going into early labour,” she said.
“When I got to the hospital, doctors said I was already 3cm dilated and needed to get to Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane - a specialised facility - if I was to have my baby this early,” Emily Kate said.
“So, we got into an ambulance and made it here in 40 minutes.”
Emily Kate said Keenan, a fly-in-fly-out worker, had made it back from Western Australia, in time for his daughter’s birth.
“My sister was with me the entire time and Keenan was there every step of the way, holding my hand through Lilly Kate’s delivery. Mum was there when I got out of surgery,” Emily Kate said.
“Mum had literally just got back home to Western Australia after visiting us. I called and told her what was happening and she paid $4000 for a flight back to Brisbane, missing Lilly’s birth by just hours.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey, but we are so grateful for the care Lilly Kate is receiving at Mater Mothers’, we can see her improving every day, her weight is slowly creeping up.”
More than 2000 seriously ill and premature babies are cared for at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) at South Brisbane.