Update Tuesday 12pm: When Emma Bayly's son Nate was born in a Mount Gambier hospital on March 3, he arrived two and a half weeks early.
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If delivered on time, he would have arrived just a few days before South Australia closed its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, the closure has had an impact on Nate's young life, and that of his mother.
Ms Bayly, of Lillimur, says the Mount Gambier District Health Service, cancelled two follow up consultations scheduled for April, a source of stress for her.
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"One was a four-week appointment to check he was developing fine. Another was a six-week appointment... with the doctor that did the Caesarean for me: He was doing a post-surgery check-up to make sure everything was healing OK, and to discuss why I needed a Caesarean," she said.
"They made these appointments when I was in hospital to come back on these particular dates. When they got cancelled, I was told I would be put on a list to have those appointments when things returned to normal.
"I told them I still wished to attend the appointment about my scar when they rang to cancel. At first, they (the hospital) said I could keep it, but the next morning they rang back and said they were cancelling it, and 'please don't come down'."
Ms Bayly said she was told due to the lockdown, people were not being let into Mount Gambier hospital "unless absolutely necessary". She has heard nothing since.
Ms Bayly has family in Mount Gambier but works in the kitchen at Kaniva Hospital. She moved to Lillimur several years ago, and lives with partner Daniel, a mechanic.
She said there were no specialists in her area that could identify complications following on from childbirth. She has since made appointments with a Ballarat paediatrician, a journey that will take her almost twice the time it does to get to Mount Gambier.
Ms Bayly said she had chosen to go to a specialist beyond the Wimmera at the recommendation of her doctor in Kaniva.
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"(Nate) is missing the last joint in four toes, which the paediatrician we saw on delivery in Mount Gambier knew about," she said. "That's why I'm disappointed our four-week appointment wasn't followed up on as I have many questions in regards to this.
"Is he reaching his milestones, is every OK with him? I feel like I've missed some of those important appointments. I've also got no ideas if I'm healing fine."
An SA Health spokeswoman said women living in Victoria needing to cross the border to attend ante-natal or post-natal appointments were being "offered a range of alternatives".
"(These include) appointments via telehealth if clinically appropriate, during this time," she said.
"Any easing of COVID-19 restrictions, including cross-border travel, is a matter for the Transition Committee and we will continue to follow all directions issued by the Police Commissioner.
"As always, our number one priority is protecting the health and wellbeing of our community and we encourage all new mothers to contact us to discuss any concerns."
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
