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On 21 December 2006 Mater Mothers' Hospital Neonatology Unit celebrated its 30th birthday. The unit has cared for more than 39 000 babies since opening including some of Australia's smallest surviving babies. Neonatology Director Professor David Tudehope, who was appointed at Mater in July 1977, says neonatal care has changed significantly since he began working at Mater.
“Ventilation of newborns was just evolving at that time and survival rates for premature babies weighing between 500g–1000g was just 40% compared to 84% today,” he said.
“It has been my absolute privilege to care for premature babies throughout my career and it still never ceases to amaze me how some of these babies pull through. It's quite extraordinary how much these babies can sustain.”
Pictured: Jane White with her baby, Julie, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Julie was born on 12 November 2006 at 27 weeks, weighing a tiny 554 grams at birth.
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