Rugby player marks milestone at Mater Mothers’ Hospital

Former Wallaby Digby Ioane scored the ultimate goal this week with the birth of his baby boy Lenny who marked a milestone as the 10 000th baby to be born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in 2021. 

Little Lenny Natuitasina James Ioane was born on Wednesday 17 November at 11am, the first child of proud parents Digby and Stephanie.

“I haven’t been this excited since I made the Wallabies team!” Mr Ioane said. “We chose the name Lenny which means brave, and his middle name is inspired by my Samoan heritage – ‘Natuitasina’ means chief in Samoan.”

Mr and Mrs Ioane arrived at Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital in South Brisbane about 9am on Wednesday, expecting a long labour before the arrival of their first-born.

“It all happened incredibly quickly,” Mrs Ioane said.

“Lenny arrived at 10.59am.”

Mater Mothers’ Hospital is Australia’s largest maternity service, with one in five Queensland babies born at a Mater hospital and an average of 33 newborns arriving per day.

This year, 4863 girls and 5137 boys have been born at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals in Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Redland and South Brisbane.

There has been 7 sets of triplets and 168 sets of twins.

Mater Director of Mothers, Babies and Women’s Health, Dr Mike Beckmann, said every birth was a special occasion but reaching the 10 000 baby milestone was an extraordinary achievement for Mater midwives and clinicians.

“Mater is Australia’s largest maternity service provider, welcoming more than 30 babies into the world each and every day of the year, “ Dr Beckmann said.

“It is a privilege to share the first moments of a newborn’s life with their family and we are passionate about making sure every baby born at a Mater hospital receives the very best care.

“Hitting the 10 000 mark is a reminder of the enormous role our midwives, nurses, doctors and other clinicians play every year in supporting the Queensland community.”

Mr Ioane said he was looking forward to starting their new life as a family of three. “I can’t wait to be there for each milsetone and watch Lenny grow up,” he said. 

Mater Mothers 2021 baby birth statistics (January 1 – November 11, 2021):

• Average babies born per day: 33
• Busiest day of the year: 14 July
• Busiest month of the year: March
• Boys: 5137
• Girls: 4863
• Twins: 168
• Triplets: 7