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First baby of 2013 starts a boom at Stevenson

2013 starts with a baby boom at Stevenson Memorial Hospital

January 14/13 - Stevenson Memorial Hospital’s birthing unit started the New Year with a baby boom as 11 babies arrived during the first days of 2013. By mid month, the total reached 19.

Krystle Waitman and Chris Speir welcomed their first child - Simcoe County’s first baby of 2013 - at Stevenson, just seven minutes after midnight on January 1 to get things started.

During the first weekend of January, seven babies were born at Stevenson. Parents welcomed 4 boys and 3 girls, adding to unprecedented number of newborns arriving in a short period.

“I’m sure this is a first for us,” said Khem Sukhraj, manager of OBS at Stevenson.  “It is a very exciting time for our Obstetrical Team.”

Punnapa Hartly RN has worked in the birthing unit for a number of years has never seen a busier time.

“It is absolutely amazing”. I had two babies every shift I worked - six out of 11 were born in my shifts,” she said. Our birthing rooms were full most of the time. We used to think that if we had an average of one baby a day, that was good . . . but this past weekend it was the norm for us to have two babies in just 12 hours.”

The trend follows a busy year at Stevenson, where 318 were delivered during 2012 – up from 297 in 2012.

Sukhraj credits the dedication and passion of nurses, midwives, physicians and other members of the inter-disciplinary team, and consistent 100 per cent patient satisfaction rates for the growth.

Jessica Couture delivered her baby at Stevenson earlier this year.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the care I received,” she said. “My pregnancy had many bumps in the road and at every visit I made to the birthing unit, I received superior care.”

New mom Sara Sprott agreed, saying “everyone was very helpful and always there when needed. We couldn’t ask for a better staff and we felt at home.”

Stevenson Memorial Hospital has been named one of Ontario’s Top Performers in maternity care in a new report from National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC Picker Canada) and the Ontario Hospital Association.

Stevenson has one of the highest-rated maternity programs in Ontario, consistently recording 100 per cent patient satisfaction rates. The accomplishment places the hospital as a benchmark facility in the province.

New moms who gave birth at Stevenson say they would recommend the hospital to their family and friends,” explained Sukhraj. “We work hard to provide the best possible birth experience to families and our 100 per cent satisfaction rates reflect the dedication and passion that our Obstetrical Team have for the patients and the service.”