Tiny baby Boaz best early Christmas present

Hospital is not where the Young family thought they would be spending Christmas Day.

Making a grand entrance ahead of his January due date, Boaz Mack Hikaraahui Young, was born at 34+4 weeks.

"While it's not where we thought we'd be celebrating Christmas, it's still extra special as we're sharing it with our very precious baby boy and with other families like us in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," Boaz's Dad Jude Young said.

Weighing just over 2.2 kilograms, baby Boaz is currently in the Neonates ward at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).

The plan was for Mum Esther to give birth closer to home at Peel Health Campus but when her waters broke six weeks early, she was transferred by ambulance to FSH.

"We're just incredibly grateful that Boaz is here and he's healthy," Esther said.

"All the midwives have been so great especially helping me with breastfeeding and getting used to being a new Mum given he surprised us earlier than expected."

One of 12 children herself, Esther's extended family is constantly growing. Scheduled to be grandchild number 19, Boaz snuck in at number 18 before his baby cousin who is due on Christmas Day.

FSH Neonate Acting Nurse Unit Manager, Francine Jacobs, said while they always hoped their littlest patients would be discharged in time for Christmas there were still families like the Young’s who had a longer wait for their homecoming.

"During the holiday season, we strive to bring joy to families of sick neonates by collaborating with various charities to provide heartwarming gifts that help brighten their spirits," Francine said.

"Our team also creates sentimental keepsakes for these families, including cards featuring their baby's hand and footprints, which serve as cherished mementos during this special time."

"Additionally, each baby receives a festive Christmas beanie and a cozy quilt, thoughtfully crafted to provide comfort and warmth while spreading holiday cheer to both the infants and their families."

Dad Jude said Boaz is exactly where he needs to be right now and the family is focused on getting him big and strong.

"You have this ideal picture of what Christmas would be like, or even what having a baby would be like, but sometimes it goes nothing like you plan or imagine,” Jude said.

"It's in that rough and uncertain place when baby does come, perhaps at a time when you least expect it, you don't notice what's wrong or what didn't go to plan."

"It's in that place, in looking at your baby's face, that actually this is the perfect time."

Bringing baby Boaz home safe and well, and meeting his much bigger 15-year-old half-brother, is really the best present they could ever ask for.

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