1,500 babies and counting

17 Mar 2026

St John of God Berwick Hospital is celebrating an extraordinary milestone, with highly regarded obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Poonam Arora delivering her 1,500th baby at the Kangan Drive hospital since it opened in January 2018.

Dr Arora has been accredited with the hospital since 2010, first practising at the former Gibb Street site before transitioning to the purpose-built Kangan Drive facility. Over more than 15 years, she has become a trusted and familiar presence for families across Berwick, Casey and Melbourne’s south-east.

Since 2018 alone, Dr Arora has delivered 1,500 babies at Kangan Drive — including over 745 boys and 725 girls — as well as 20 sets of twins, welcoming 40 twin babies into the world.

Among those twin births were five all-boy sets, eight all-girl sets and seven mixed sets.
Passionate about women’s health across all stages of life — from adolescence to menopause — Dr Arora said sharing life’s most significant milestones with families continues to inspire her.

“I chose to become a doctor, and ultimately an obstetrician and gynaecologist, because I wanted to walk alongside women through every stage of life. It’s such a privilege to share the journey, the highs and the lows, and to see families grow over time.”

Known for her calm and reassuring manner, particularly with anxious first-time parents, Dr Arora is a strong advocate for patient education and individualised care.

“No two patients, pregnancies or journeys are ever the same. I strongly believe in empowering women to understand their bodies and their choices so they feel informed, confident and heard. Respectful, compassionate care is at the heart of everything I do.”
When asked about her favourite moment in the birth suite, her answer is immediate.

“It’s always the baby’s first cry. And then seeing the looks shared between the parents and their newborn, that moment of connection is incredibly special. Even after thousands of births, it never loses its magic.”

St John of God Berwick Hospital Director of Nursing, Allison Merrigan congratulated Dr Arora on the significant achievement.

“Dr Arora’s dedication to women’s health and maternity care has had a profound impact on our community,” she said. “Reaching 1,500 births at Kangan Drive is an extraordinary milestone and reflects her clinical excellence, compassion and commitment to personalised care.”

For Dr Arora, however, the milestone is less about the number and more about the families behind it.

“Every birth story is unique. To be part of so many of those stories is something I will always treasure.”


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