A new mother has named her baby girl Mercy, as a tribute to the staff at Werribee Mercy Hospital.
Rebecca Mayen and her husband Henry welcomed Mercy into the world on November 17, although she was actually due to be born on December 2. When she was born at 38 weeks, Mercy weighed just 2.2kg and was 50 centimetres long.
Ms Mayen said doctors made the decision to induce Mercy, after they discovered she had stopped growing and that there was not enough amniotic fluid surrounding her.
Ms Mayen, who has three children, also gave birth to the second-youngest, Martin, at Werribee Mercy two years ago.
She said that although she lost a lot of blood during Martin’s birth, the hospital’s employees made her safe and reassured.
“They have a great team there and they are really supportive,” she said.
Ms Mayen said although she wanted to name Mercy in honour of an order of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy who have carried out many good deeds across the world, another major reason she decided upon the name was the wonderful care she had received from staff at the Werribee Mercy.
“I said, ‘This would be a nice present for the Mercy’,” she said.
Ms Mayen said the nurses were “very excited and happy” after she named Mercy.
Despite her early birth, Mercy is now in good health and living at home with her family.
Ms Mayen, who came from South Sudan to Australia in 2006, said she was happy Australia could offer a good future for her children.
