It isn’t often that babies are born in Arctic Bay. These days, actually for quite some time now, expectant mothers are flown out to Iqaluit, usually about a month before the due date. There is a logic to this of course, Iqaluit is much more equipped to deliver babies and to handle the emergencies that might crop up. Most of the outlying communities, such as Arctic Bay, have Health Centres staffed by nurses. The nurses up here are great, doing a job that would most often fall to a doctor in the south. They save lives, stitch wounds, counsel, teach and care for the community. Our Nurse in charge here is coming up to twenty years of service to this community. I’m not sure if it is a record in Nunavut but her dedication to her community is amazing.
Of course it hasn’t always been the case that baby’s were born down south in Iqaluit. For thousands of years here they were born out on the land. Leah’s eldest three brothers where born here in Arctic Bay, the birth of the third prompting a move into town, in 1969. You have to admire the fortitude of women back then (and now also, everytime someone tells me a birth weight I can’t help but thinking "ow"), giving birth in the dead of winter in a Iglu or a Qarmaq, often with little or no help.
It can’t be easy now a days either. Imagine a young girl ready to have her first baby, leaving family and support systems behind and spending a month in a (sometimes) strange community, all the while inching closer to what must be a fairly scary event. I wasn’t present for either Travis’ or Hilary’s birth, but they are both adopted, and it would not be expected for me to be there. But I don’t know how I would have handled being separated from Leah for a month, not being there to support her and care for her had she been pregnant and sent down south. I suspect that it would be one of the most frustrating angst filled times of my life.
While babies being born here are rare events, it does happen from time to time. Like everywhere else there are surprises. Some babies are just a little more anxious to see the world than others. Leah called last night to say that she was on her way to the Nursing Station as one of her cousins was in labour. A little while later her sister stopped by for the camera. So, I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of my extended family, Alexander, who surprised everyone with an early entrance, all four pounds of him. I guess he didn’t want to wait until March.
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9 responses
Welcome Alexander! Let’s work on developing some patience, huh? 🙂
Wow – what a beautifully peaceful face.
Doesn’t look impatient at all.
What a beautiful babe!
Thanks Liza, laura and LCP.
Congratulations. Anyone that fights to get to Arctic Bay early obviously has their priorities in the proper order. Please extend my best wishes to the good people of Arctic Bay, the Koonoo family, Moses, Jeannie(I’m sorry I don’t know her married name, but to her family also), Leah Okituk and her family, and all. It’s been nearly 25 years since I too briefly stayed there but rarely does a day go by that I don’t think of the generosity and friendship offered to me while I was there. I think I am a better husband and father because of lessons learned there. Thanks to all.
What a handsome looking little fella’. So enjoyed reading your post:-)
awwww..welcome alexander.
its hard delivering a baby outside the community though i am not from here but the thought of leaving my husband and daughter for a month while i deliver our 2nd baby was torture. so all of us went when i had to deliver and boy, the husband was a great help considering i had a csection and all. i dont think i will be able to fly back to arviat from winnipeg on my own with my luggage and all!
Congratulations, he’s very cute!! You are right about the anxiety that birthing in Iqaluit causes. Unfortunately the travel policy in Nunavut does not cover partners to travel with pregnant people for the birth. Especially for young first time Moms this sometimes turns the experience from something wonderful into something fairly scary.
That being said, births in the community have their own stressors and can be equally anxiety provoking. I’m glad it all went well!!
Craig, I’ll certainly say hello to everyone for you when I see them. What did you do when you were here 25 years ago?
Thanks F.W.B.G. I’ve removed your link seeing it is a commercial site.
Hey Aida, Thanks again for your insightful input. And belated congratulations on the birth of your child.
Thanks Dr. J. It is a tricky thing, balancing the need to have the births in a safer environment and the needs of the family. Even when cost isn’t an issue the one month lead time is difficult. Again if it was Leah going down for a birth how could I possibly spend a month down there and still expect to have a business left when I returned, a month if the birth comes on the due date.