Tracey Delisle was half expecting a difficult second delivery.
Delisle鈥檚 first child was born a few weeks premature after a pregnancy that was complicated by diabetes, pancreatitis and high blood pressure.
But Tracey, 32, and her navy husband, Denis, 35, were still surprised on April 26. During a routine examination, a doctor recommended she be admitted to hospital immediately. Signs including high blood pressure were causing concern.
For the safety of the baby and Tracey, a caesarean-section delivery was performed on April 27 at Victoria General Hospital, more than two months ahead of the July 4 due date.
Addy Delisle was born weighing three pounds, 13听ounces, and is doing well in intensive care. Breathing tubes have been removed and she is now being fed.
Tracy and Denis 鈥� already parents of 18-month-old son Parker 鈥� are only now catching their breath. After all, the family had only arrived from Nova Scotia on April 25 for Denis鈥檚 transfer to CFB Esquimalt.
鈥淲e thought we would have a couple of months before she came along,鈥� Tracey said of baby Addy. 鈥淚t was scary not knowing what was going to happen and she was so premature.鈥�
Complex deliveries such as Addy鈥檚 are on the increase in sa国际传媒 and elsewhere in sa国际传媒. An increase in the average age of mothers and rise in obesity rates are most commonly cited as reasons, although neither was a factor in Tracey鈥檚 pregnancy.
A 2011 study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information noted one in five births was to women over 35.
That study also noted women over 34 are twice as likely to develop gestational diabetes than those younger 鈥� and women older than 40 are three times more likely.
Meanwhile, the provincial government鈥檚 Perinatal Services of sa国际传媒 records the percentage of mothers with a prenatal body mass index greater than 30 (regarded as obese) has increased from 10.8 per cent in 2002-03 to 13 per cent in 2011-12.
Perinatal Services of sa国际传媒 also notes an increase in the number of C-sections, from 27.4 per cent of all births in 2001-04 to 30.9 per cent in 2011-12, numbers pushed because of complications in delivery.
Dr. Jerome Dansereau, chief of obstetrics and gynecology for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said these numbers are well known.
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After all, the Canadian population is getting older and heavier. Having babies later and being overweight can raise the risks in pregnancy, but these complications should not raise alarms, Dansereau said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not climbing to the point where I would say there is a crisis in society,鈥� he said.
In particular, Dansereau said the overall age of mothers is a matter of social tradeoffs, with many upsides for children and mothers.
Many women now choose to delay past their 20s before starting a family.
鈥淏iologically speaking, people should have their babies really early, in their 20s,鈥� Dansereau said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when, physically, you are the most fit and in the best physical position to have a smooth pregnancy. But it doesn鈥檛 mean that you are emotionally or financially or socially ready to have a baby.
鈥淚n the end, people make their decision based on multiple reasons, not just because of risk factors.鈥�
Azeita Harding, manager of perinatal services at Victoria General Hospital, said risks or complications during pregnancies or delivery are just part of the job and are accommodated by the health-care system.
鈥淲e can deal with it. We do deal with it and we have to deal with it,鈥� said Harding, whose training includes nursing, midwifery and bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees.
鈥淓verybody is different and every pregnancy is different, and the staff here just rises to the challenge every time,鈥� Harding said.
Meanwhile, Tracey expressed gratitude to everybody involved with Addy鈥檚 premature delivery and the services at Victoria General.
From the chance for the Delisle family to reside safe and close by at Jeneece Place to the quick tests and prompt action, nothing was left to chance.
鈥淓verybody here was really great,鈥� she said.
