Mum and proud Mijumbal woman Dayna Harrison wants baby Jude Tupu to grow up immersed in her culture and heritage.
She joined twenty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families at a special ceremony called Welcome Baby to Community to yarn with Elders, and connect with other families in the region.
Dayna moved from her home at Tweed Heads to Ipswich three years ago to live with her partner. She joined the ceremony to meet other families in the region and teach Jude more about her culture.
When Jude was born early at 34 weeks and 6 days, she spent time in the Ipswich Hospital special care nursery.
Welcome Baby to Community is hosted by our Jaghu Maternal and Infant Care team, who work alongside the Ipswich Hospital nursing and midwifery team.
Jaghu Clinical Midwife Consultant Nicole Moller said the First Nation’s maternity program is expanding with three midwives joining the existing team to deliver a Midwifery Group Practice (known as MGP) program within Jaghu.
MGP offers continuity of care for women throughout pregnancy until around six-weeks after delivery.
These midwives will provide more opportunities for First Nations’ community to receive their antenatal and postnatal care through a holistic and culturally safe model.
The Jaghu team also have a dedicated Child Health Nurse, Social Worker, Aboriginal Health Worker and Social Emotional Wellbeing Officer within the team.