Help for high-risk pregnancies

Austin (KXAN) - Mothers with high risk pregnancies have a better chance of making it to a hospital that specializes in premature babies thanks to a new program that's celebrating a successful first year this week at St. David's Medical Center.

It’s called the Maternal Transport Unit. Melanie Zoerner was the first to use it one year ago when her daughter Isabelle was born early.

“I had no idea anything was wrong, and they did the ultrasound and they said, 'Oh, you're dilated to 1 centimeter and I was only 21 weeks along,” said Zoerner.

Her daughter ended up being born at just 24 weeks and spent 127 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Because she had a high-risk pregnancy, she was transported to St. David's in Downtown Austin by the new maternal transport unit.

"We take everything we might need to take care of mom, like medications, ultrasound,” said Marie Crum, an RNC OB Transport Nurse.

Crum has made dozens of trips aboard STARFlight this year alone to bring women from an 11-county area to deliver at St. David's, which specializes in neonatal care.

“If it was born here, we're finding they have shorter stays in the NICU and less time on the ventilators,” said Crum.

After one year, this unit has helped more than 100 moms- and counting. It's the extra care that makes a big difference for both mom and baby.

“We are having a birthday party this weekend,” said Zoerner. "Isabelle is turning one."