November 12, 20240
Northern Health is proud to support our community in growing their families through accessible public fertility care. In a service led by The Royal Women’s Hospital, Northern Health is committed to making fertility services more available to individuals and families who currently have limited access to private services.
One of these families is the Rowe family. Sarah and Matt Rowe had been trying for a baby for some time. All around them, their friends were having babies, and they were concerned with why it didn’t seem to be happening to them. While it appeared to come easy to others, they were really struggling and the disappointment was beginning to take its toll.
They were aware there were options, such as IVF, but these would be costly. And while they were prepared to pay for IVF, it would mean going without other things, restricting them and affecting their lifestyle.
The couple became aware of Victoria’s new Public Fertility Care through their GP. They obtained a referral and an appointment was made for them at Northern Health, their closest satellite service. There they met Jacque Dulson, a Registered Nurse with Northern Fertility Service.
“Patients who never thought having a family would be possible are now overjoyed that they are able to access this free fertility service. It means that the ability to pay is no longer a determining factor in whether or not you have a family,” Ms Dulson said.
From the outset, Sarah and Matt were at ease and very comfortable in the environment and with the information that had been provided to them. They felt welcomed and safe to ask any questions, and comforted by the knowledge that they would be supported at every step of the process.
“We really had no idea about the fertility process and we assumed we would go straight to IVF. Instead, we went through ovulation induction which was a different experience to what we thought we would have, but a successful one,” said Mrs Rowe.
The couple undertook nurse-led ovulation induction – a process where medication is used to stimulate and induce regular ovulation, allowing for more accurate timing of intercourse – which proved to be successful.
Their beautiful, healthy baby girl, Lola is Northern’ s first baby born due to intervention from the fertility service. The couple were overjoyed with Lola’s arrival, describing the experience as ‘surreal’.
Sarah, Matt and Lola paid a special visit to Northern Health’s Women’s Health Hub when Lola was just two weeks old to meet with Jacque and the medical team. The team at Northern were thrilled to meet Lola and experience first-hand the impact of their work and how it can change the lives of our local families.
“Having access to the service and being able to access it so close to home is huge for people and families in our situation,” said Mrs Rowe.
