Long separation for West Coast families needing NICU care

Monday, 22 June 2026

Lyndal Watson and daughter Blaire, from Westport, who spent time in Christchurch's NICU after her birth.

When Lyndal Watson travelled from the West Coast to Christchurch while pregnant with her daughter Blaire, she thought the trip would be brief.

What she didn’t realise was that the next five weeks would be spent living away from her Westport home, separated from her young sons, while her newborn fought for survival in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

“I honestly thought it might be 24 or 48 hours. I just didn’t really understand what NICU was,” Watson said.

Blaire spent time in Christchurch's NICU after she was born with Noonan syndrome, a condition often associated with heart problems.

Christchurch Women’s Hospital is the main tertiary‑level neonatal intensive care unit in the South Island, providing critical care for the region’s most vulnerable newborns. Since it opened in 2005, the population it serves has grown by nearly 26%, placing increasing pressure on the unit.

Funded for 44 neonatal cots, the NICU cares for up to 60 babies at a time.

Each year, about 30 babies whose families live on the West Coast are born in a tertiary maternity facility, most commonly Christchurch Women’s Hospital. These births represent about 10 to 15% of all West Coast births.

Blaire with her big brothers, 4‑year‑old Beauden and 2‑year‑old Oliver.

At Watson’s 12-week scan, clinicians noticed increased fluid at the back of her baby’s neck, raising concerns about possible chromosomal or cardiac conditions. While early tests were reassuring, further genetic testing at 32 weeks revealed Blaire had Noonan syndrome, a condition often associated with heart problems.

“That was terrifying. They couldn’t really tell us what she would be like until she was born,” Watson said.

A month before her due date, Watson relocated to Christchurch so she could be close to specialist care, staying at Ronald McDonald House, more than 300km from her sons, four‑year‑old Beauden and two‑year‑old Oliver.

Born at 37 weeks, Blaire was intubated, resuscitated three times and taken straight to NICU.

At 37 weeks, Lyndal noticed reduced movement and contacted her midwife. She was rushed to Christchurch Hospital, where Blaire was delivered by emergency caesarean section the same day. Blaire was intubated, resuscitated three times and taken straight to NICU.

“I didn’t even see her until later that night. She was so swollen I didn’t recognise her.”

Blaire spent five weeks in NICU, much of that time requiring breathing support and close monitoring. Watson spent her days at her daughter’s bedside, and her nights alone.

Lyndal Watson and Anthony Ellis with their daughter Blaire in Christchurch's NICU.

“That was the hardest part. Leaving the hospital at night and going back by myself. That’s when it really hit.”

Back home, life went on. Videos arrived on Lyndal’s phone of her sons having dinner with family or playing at the park.

“I felt guilty no matter where I was. Guilty for not being with Blaire, and guilty for not being with my boys.”

Blaire still has her heart monitored as she has Noonan syndrome, a condition often associated with heart problems.

For West Coast families, needing NICU care often means being separated from support networks at the most vulnerable moment of their lives.

“If you live in Christchurch, you can go home, see your other kids, sleep in your own bed. When you’re from the Coast, you leave everything behind.”

Inside the busy NICU, Watson recalls arriving early each morning to make sure there was a comfortable chair beside Blaire’s cot so she could stay all day.

“It sounds small, but when you’re there constantly, it matters. You don’t want to leave in case you lose your chair.”

Celebrating Blaire’s first birthday was a milestone for the family who were separated after Blaire’s birth.

Those everyday pressures are part of what the $16 million redevelopment of the NICU aims to address. Health New Zealand has committed $13.9m to upgrade and expand the clinical space, while Māia Health Foundation is contributing $2.1 million to improve the experience for families.

The redevelopment will increase capacity to 54 neonatal cots, while Māia’s contribution will help deliver whānau rooms, overnight spaces, comfortable recliners, breastfeeding chairs and more.

“The care was incredible. The staff were amazing. It’s not about the people, it’s about the space,” Watson said.

“If Māia can help make that time for families even a little bit easier, especially for families who are so far from home, it means everything.”

Today, Blaire is 15 months old. She is crawling, laughing and developing her own determined personality. She still travels to Christchurch every three months for heart monitoring.

Donations to Māia Health Foundation to support the NICU redevelopment can be made on the Māia Health website.