Graphic: Anna holding her baby
Weekend away for Robinson family ends with flight to hospital for early birth
A fear of flying and going into early labour is a scary combination for any expectant mother, in a town with no birthing facilities, but with the help of the Flying Doctor, Anna Robinson’s beautiful baby was able to be delivered safely in hospital.
When Anna went into labour four weeks early on a family trip to Lightning Ridge, her biggest fear was giving birth in a town with no maternity ward.
That soon changed when Anna was told she would be flown to Dubbo Hospital, triggering her fear of flying.
However, with the help of the dedicated and experienced Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) crew, a reassured Anna was able to get to Dubbo Hospital where her son, Zidan, was born.
Last year, Anna, her husband Abdulah Zayied and two children decided to take a short family trip to Lightning Ridge. At 36 weeks pregnant Anna thought she still had plenty of time before the arrival of her third child.
After enjoying their first day in the mining town, things would take a dramatic turn at 2am when Anna’s waters broke and the first signs of labour began.
“We called Dubbo Hospital and they said to go to the medical centre there. I had a history of fast labours so they advised against trying to drive to Dubbo,” Anna said.
“I got to the centre and they assessed me and decided the best action was to call the RFDS and take me to Dubbo. Medication had slowed down the labour so it made transportation possible.”
When the Flying Doctor landed in Lightning Ridge, Anna was introduced to Flight Nurse Kerry Lyn Ukena.
“I told Kerry that I had a fear of flying and she was fantastic. She worked to reassure me. I was introduced to the rest of the team and they got me in the plane. Thankfully it wasn’t a bumpy flight. It was strange being in labour in the air but Kerry was so lovely,” Anna said.
While Anna was in the air, Abdullah followed by road, making a stop to drop the children with friends, and arrived in Dubbo before the birth.
Despite her fear of flying, Anna said it was the best possible option in her circumstances, and while she doesn’t think her experience has cured her fear, she hopes it will help.
“It was lucky that I was able to make it to Dubbo because when baby was born he had complications with his breathing so he was in the best possible place to receive treatment. If I’d gone by road ambulance I probably would have given birth on the side of the road around Coonamble,” she said.
“It was lucky that I was able to make it to Dubbo because when baby was born he had complications with his breathing so he was in the best possible place to receive treatment. If I’d gone by road ambulance I probably would have given birth on the side of the road around Coonamble,” she said.
“I haven’t yet flown again, but hope my experience has given me the perspective that any future flight where I’m not in labour has surely got to be more relaxing than the one where I was!”
In December 2021, Anna and her family were in Dubbo and came to the Flying Doctor base to see Kerry and thank her and the RFDS team for their assistance.
Kerry was able to meet Zidan for the first time and hear what had happened to Anna after she was transported from the plane to Dubbo Hospital.
“It was so touching that Anna tracked me down. One of the unfortunate parts about our job is once you get the person on the ground and they’re put into a transport vehicle, we don’t see them again and often we don’t hear what happens,” Kerry said.
“To get to hold Zidan and hear that everything went well for Anna and her family was fantastic.”
