The Almonte Hospital's mystery March baby boom
This spring has been full of life in Almonte, as the local hospital has seen its biggest baby boom in recent memory.
Dr. Melanie Fortune, the Almonte General Hospital's lead of family medicine obstetrics says they averaged more than one birth per day.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"We had about 33 babies born in March, which is at least 50 per cent more than what I believe we saw in the year prior," said Fortune.
"So the thing about babies is they don't arrive on schedule and they don't arrive evenly distributed," added Mary Wilson Trider, the hospital's president and CEO. "So we had days that were really crazy because we had five or six."
Dr. Fortune says the new life is great for the community.
"We slept less, we probably ate less, and saw our own families less. But for us it's the reason we do this job," she said.
Fortune reckons the hospital delivered more girls than boys in March.
But the mystery remains as to why March was such a bountiful month for babies in Almonte.
"Usually we have increased births in September, August, those kinds of times," says Fortune. "But there is no rhyme or reason. We had more in February too; it was a fairly busy month as well."
Ottawa mother Laura Dangerfield gave birth to her fourth child, Ezra, in Almonte, just catching the tail end of the baby boom.
"We were induced here on March 31st, and then he came on April 1st," she tells CTV News.
Dangerfield says word of mouth recommended that she give birth to her fourth child in Almonte, and she believes the high level of care may be the reason so many more babies are arriving in the Ottawa Valley hospital.
"When I was here, it wasn't too busy, or at least it didn't seem that way. I think the care here — you wouldn't have known that they were as busy as they were."
"We've got a terrific five bed unit," adds Wilson Trider. "And we are the only obstetrics unit in the Champlain region between Pembroke and the Queensway Carleton Hospital."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
'Nobody should be getting away with murder': Grieving mother speaks out after son killed in North Preston, N.S.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.
Toronto-area dessert shop featured by Keith Lee forced to move after zoning complaint
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.