The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Women and Children’s Program recorded a historic 931 births over the past year, marking the highest annual total in the hospital’s history.
The total represents a significant increase from 866 births the previous year and 781 births the year before, reflecting continued population growth in the municipality and increasing demand for maternity services.
Hospital officials said September and October were the busiest months for deliveries. Staff have observed more families choosing to settle in Chatham-Kent, contributing to the rise in births and reinforcing the hospital’s role in supporting families throughout pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding year for our team, and we are honored to serve our growing community,” said Jessica Johnston, clinical manager of the Women and Children’s Program. “When a life is brought into this world, it is a privilege to aid in the comfort and experience of the whole family during their stay and journey at CKHA.”
The milestone comes alongside several recent improvements to the Women and Children’s Program. The hospital has introduced a dedicated breastfeeding room, resumed unit tours for expectant parents and added a Panda Infant Warmer, an advanced thermoregulation system for newborns. The warmer was purchased through a partnership involving the CKHA Foundation and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.
“As an obstetrician-gynecologist at CKHA, it is incredibly rewarding to see our Women and Children’s Program continue to grow and evolve,” said Dr. Jessica Smith, an obstetrician-gynecologist at CKHA. “Welcoming a record number of babies into our community is a testament to the trust families place in our team, and having access to new equipment helps ensure we can provide the highest quality care possible. Every day, we have the privilege of supporting women and families through some of life’s most important moments, and these investments strengthen our ability to deliver safe, compassionate care close to home.”
CKHA also continues to offer specialized services for expectant parents and newborns and maintains a pediatric team with expertise in neonatology. Hospital officials say those services help more families remain in Chatham-Kent for care rather than being transferred to larger centres outside the community.
“We understand how stressful it can be for families to travel outside our community for specialized medical care, especially during such a monumental milestone as the birth of a child,” said Dr. Yasser Soliman, chief physician of the Women and Children’s Department. “By keeping our advanced neonatal and pediatric services close to home, we aren’t just providing exceptional clinical care, we are ensuring that new parents have their local support systems right beside them when they need them most.”
The program is supported by a team of pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, nurses and support staff. Hospital leaders say the continued growth of the Women and Children’s Program aligns with CKHA’s efforts to expand specialized services and respond to the changing health-care needs of the community.
“We are pleased to see the ‘Our Focus is YOU’ Strategic Plan in action as we work to enhance Women and Children’s health across our sites,” said Caen Suni, CKHA vice-president of clinical programs and operations. “Welcoming a record number of babies is a testament to the trust our community places in us. We remain committed to investing in the people and technology required to provide an exceptional care experience for every family for years to come.”
