Jade Pers thought she had seen it all in nearly 10 years as a retrieval nurse for RFDS – but she had never delivered a baby.
That changed in November when Fitzroy Crossing woman Shaina Chungulla went into labour mid-flight.
Shaina was almost 34 weeks pregnant and her three other children had all arrived before reaching full term.
She was being flown to Broome because the town’s hospital is the best option in the Kimberley region to support premature babies. The day before, a doctor had assessed Shaina as being in the early stages of labour, but seemingly nothing had progressed.
As the flight prepared for take-off, Shaina’s contractions were about 30 minutes apart. It didn’t appear that birth was imminent.
“We were on the ground in Fitzroy Crossing, it was really hot and we also had a second patient on the plane,” said Jade. “We needed to get going (to Broome) - we couldn’t wait around for the next contraction.”
About halfway through the hour-long flight to Broome, Shaina whispered to Jade that she thought her waters had broken. That’s when she realised the crew could have to deliver a premature baby on the plane, a daunting task.
“My colleague (Dr Carl Hamer) said my face was white when I told him her waters had broken,” said Jade. “Shaina was gripping the rail and I could tell by her demeanor she knew she was about to have a baby.”
Jade stayed calm and called the Broome RFDS base to request that a clinical team meet the plane as soon as it landed.
“As we landed, Shaina had the urge to push and when the pilot (Nathan Wileman) heard me say that, he shut down the plane as quickly as I have ever seen a pilot do it and got her off the plane!” Jade said.
Shaina was rushed into the Broome RFDS base and baby Louisianna was born with pink cheeks and breathing well, just two minutes after the plane landed.
Jade visited Shaina and Louisianna in Broome hospital the next day. She says the delivery was a career highlight.
I was lucky that it all went so well and it happened just in time for my 10 year anniversary with RFDS, so it really felt like a gift.
Jade Pers, RFDS WA Retrieval NurseAfter spending about four weeks in Broome Hospital, Shaina and Louisianna are now back home in Fitzroy Crossing.
