Ashburton Courier: April 09, 2020

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Page 4, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday April 9, 2020 Ada born during lockdown By Toni Williams Ashburton author Rachel Nixon and newborn Ada Haley Nixon. Ashburton author Rachel Nixon and her husband, children’s librarian Jonathan Nixon, have welcomed a new addition to their family. Ada Haley Nixon was born on March 28 at Christchurch Women’s Hospital weighing 2.75kg (five pound 9oz). It was day three of the national Covid19 lockdown. “She’s just awee dot,” Mr Nixon said. Ada, named after acharacter in the Charles Dickens’ novel Bleak House, has the middle name of Mrs Nixon's 93yearold grandmother’s maiden name. She lives in Auckland. Back at home in Ashburton now, Mrs Nixon and Ada are doing well. But, like any good story, Ada’s arrival has been full of interesting twists with a birth experience nothing like when they had son Caleb, two and ahalf years ago. Mr Nixon said the plan to birth at Ashburton Hospital was scuppered because of concern around Ada’s limited weight gain. Aplan was made to be induced at Christchurch Women’s Hospital but, during lockdown, that meant tight restrictions on access. “There was a huge amount of stress added around Covid19.” Mr Nixon had to be registered as birthing partner and could not be unwell in any form to attend. They had Mr Nixon’s sister, in Christchurch, who has no children yet, lined up as abackup to step in as support if he got sick. He thought she was probably quite happy not to be needed in the end. The Nixons had a clear run to Christchurch for the planned induction, but their midwife was stopped twice by police checking on her reason for travelling during lockdown. She missed the birth by one minute. “It was aquick birth,” Mrs Nixon said. “And she was really good with after (birth) support.” At the hospital no visitors are allowed except during the birth. Mr Nixon was not allowed in the maternity ward. Once the birth was over he had to leave. Mrs Nixon, in the maternity ward for two and ahalf days, said it was a different experience, from arrival to leaving. They were greeted at the hospital entrance by staff with hand sanitiser and had to register the birth partner all the while practising social distancing. Some staff wore masks, some did not. “Jonathan was not allowed into the maternity ward at all (but) the midwives were really, really good. “It would have been nice to have Jonnie, there but that’s the way this goes.” Now home, the couple and son Caleb, have the added support of Mr Nixon’s mother Vivian, who arrived from Christchurch for the lockdown. Mrs Nixon’s mother, in Auckland, was unable to come. Regular home visits from the midwife also have astrict process to follow to minimalize touching contact and any Covid19 risk for the family, and their midwife. Mrs Nixon said the only time a midwife had touched Ada was for the initial testing at birth. Breastfeeding support is being done online with alactation consultant via the video platform Zoom. The silver lining is having Jonathan home during the lockdown, Mrs Nixon said. Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Workers back on CBD revamp as soon as able Contractors working on Ashburton’s CBD revamp will be backonthejob as soon as they are able, says Ashburton mayor NeilBrown. The CBDproject,atwoyear roading and footpath programme aimed at leading the revitalisation of Ashburton’s mainshopping area, is being undertaken by WestCoast company TruLine Civil. Mr Brown said work teams weresent home when the country wentinto alert level 4onMarch 26. Work wouldresume when the company wassafely able to have itsworkers back on the job. He said the project wasnot deemed essential work but would continue as soonaspossible. None of council’s major construction projects, including thenew library and civic building, hadbeenput off because of the virus, he said. Councilwas aware of the concerns of local businessowners about the impact of restrictions andworking on a‘‘buy local’’ campaign to encourage Mid Canterbury people to support local businesses strugglingto keep their doors open. Hakatere residents only The Hakatere community is urging people to stick to the rules during lockdown and to stay away from the coastal settlement. Hakatere Community Emergency Response Group member Kaylene Donaldson said people should not be going out for adrive to Hakatere, not be biking on the river trail, or fishing at the river mouth. The rules should be adhered to and anyone not living there should stay away. At the weekend fishermen, bikers and ‘‘No entry’’ signs made by the Hakatere community. day trippers had been spotted and the police were informed and visited, she said. Mrs Donaldson said the public toilets were closed and the community had made their own ‘‘no entry’’ signs to keep others away. ‘‘We’re very happy for people to return when things are back to normal, but not now.’’ HEALTH UPDATE Newadmissions processatAshburton Hospital To helpslowdownthe spread of COVID-19,we’ve changedthe waywedo things at AshburtonHospital. When youget to thehospitalyou’llfind ourdoors areclosed. We’llask youto phone us or pressthe doorbell. We’llvisit youinyourcar to confirm whereyou should go next. We need to keep peoplesafebymaking sure anyone whomight have COVID-19 is away from otherpatients. Thankyou forhelping us keep our patients andstaffsafe. Look after your wellbeing If youorsomeone youknowneeds wellbeingsupport or advice,callortext 1737 to speakwithatrainedcounsellor. This confidential serviceisfreeofcharge andisavailable24hoursaday, seven days aweek. There’susefuland practical informationavailable forthose at home in isolationonthe government’s website COVID19.govt.nz Be kind Canterbury hasbeenthrough alot,and we will getthrough this as well.We’re strongertogether.Remembertocheck in on the elderlyorvulnerable. Make a differencebydroppingoffsuppliesto those whoare home sick and‘virtually’ checkinwithwhānau, friendsand neighbours whoare in isolation. Stay home Youmuststayhomeunlessyou work in an essentialservice. Weall need to do everything in ourpower to break the chain of possible transmissionof COVID-19 (and otherviruses)inour communities. While in isolationathomeyou canstill go outfor awalk, butplease keep at least twometresawayfrom others. Together we canslowthe spread. Seecdhb.health.nz/COVID19for further information
Canterbury, we are allinthistogether. We know youhavealotonyourminds right now,sowewanted to let youknow that we’ll do our best to take careofyourbanking. Here are just afew of the ways Westpac can help: •Repayment deferrals * or reductions for 6months for home loan andpersonal loan customerswho have suffered negativeincomeor health impacts as aresultofCovid-19. •For personal customerswho need to breaktheir Term Investment^, wewill not reduce the rate of return wherehardship criteria is met. See our hardship withdrawal policy on westpac.co.nz. Formoreinformation on the ways we can help with your banking, please visit westpac.co.nz. Yoursfaithfully, Linda Edmonds WestpacRegionalManager Canterbury. Terms and conditions apply. * If repayments aredeferred, interest will continue to be chargedand will be added to the loan balance, which will increase the amount owed. ^Areduced rate of return for Term Investments will not applywhere an application is made to Westpac NZ on or before26September 2020.Westpac New Zealand Limited. WES1102
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Ashburton Courier: April 09, 2020

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