BABY Jesus could share a birthday with a boy whose life was saved by a crisis pregnancy safe house in Brisbane.
Pregnancy Crisis, a volunteer-run organisation that provides crisis accommodation for women with unplanned or unexpected pregnancies, is expecting the birth of a baby boy on Christmas Eve.
The precious little life will bring the number of babies born under the support of the safe house this year to 10.
Three of them were due this month, including the Christmas Eve miracle.
One of the mothers who was expecting a baby in December is a refugee seeking protection in Australia.
The safe house supervisor said it was the first time she has had to care for three new mums and their babies.
“I guess anything can happen when you’re in a job like this but it’s another first,” she said.
“We started the year with our first baby being born in the house, and we’re ending the year with three babies at Christmas.”
The Christmas Eve baby already has presents waiting for him, thanks to a donation of hampers from devoted supporters.
The mothers also have a supply of food to help them survive the initial few weeks of sleepless nights.
Under Pregnancy Crisis’ accommodation guidelines, the new mums and their babies can remain at the safe house for up to six months post-birth.
Mothers who arrived at the safe house often “look stressed” but that anxiety disappeared after a few days, the supervisor said.
“Once they know they’ve got somewhere safe to stay for the immediate future, then they begin to relax.
“They’re living in an environment where they have other women facing single parenthood as well.
“They may all come from different backgrounds but that’s one thing in common.
“Perhaps it’s a bit of a shared experience.”
The number of referral calls Pregnancy Crisis receives will continue to increase in the New Year.
“We’re still getting calls from all the hospitals in Brisbane,” the safe house supervisor said.
“We find that we’re meeting new people all the time, who didn’t know we existed.
“It’s keeping us busy.”
PCI has recently partnered with Good Samaritan Housing, a ministry supported by the Good Samaritan Sisters, which provides accommodation in north Brisbane.
It’s all part of ensuring single-mother families have a chance at a happy and healthy life.
“We just try to offer hope that even in those situations where they haven’t had the ideal upbringing themselves, we’ve tried to offer them hope, to connect them in with other services who can help them in a desire for a better future for their children,” the supervisor said.
She said they could take more donations to keep the house stocked in the new year.
“We’re always grateful for donations,” the supervisor said.
For more information, contact Pregnancy Crisis on 1300 777 777.
