The Remarkable Journey of Pregnant Women in Remote Australia: Overcoming Distance for Antenatal Care

The Struggles of Remote Pregnancies

Every fortnight, Peta Mackay drives from her home in outback Corner Country to medical appointments in Adelaide, a 2,000-kilometre round trip. The couple, Peta and Michael 'Dickie' Absalom, are nearing the end of a challenging fertility journey, with their baby due in late January.

Dickie and Peta tried to conceive for three years before committing to IVF, only for Peta to fall pregnant naturally.

Peta's routine involves driving for 14 hours to attend her appointments, staying overnight, and returning home. This challenging journey is a common reality for many women in remote regions of Australia.

Joy Amidst Heartache

After three years of trying for a baby, Peta's pregnancy came as a surprise just after they picked up their first IVF kit. However, complications arose during a routine 20-week ultrasound, revealing a cyst on the fetus's lung, leading to a diagnosis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM).

A routine ultrasound at 20 weeks showed cysts on the fetus's lungs.

This condition classified her pregnancy as high-risk, necessitating fortnightly check-ups in Adelaide, nearly 1,000km from home.

Resilience in Isolation

Claudia Simounds, another woman from a remote area, faced her own set of challenges during her pregnancy. Alone for many prenatal appointments, she felt isolated but remained resilient, ultimately giving birth to a healthy baby boy named Jett.

Ms Simounds found out she was 10 weeks' pregnant at her wedding in 2023.

Preparing for the Final Trip

As Peta prepares for her last trip to Adelaide before giving birth, she reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of her pregnancy journey. Despite the long hours spent on the road and the stress of her high-risk status, she is filled with anticipation for the arrival of her baby.

Ms Mackay called her family with the diagnosis but no one had heard of CCAM before.