The mother of B.C.’s first baby of 2020 had plans for a big party on New Year’s Eve.
The baby in her belly, however, had even bigger plans.
You couldn’t blame Claire Tabuada, 39, for planning a New Year’s bash because she wasn’t due to give birth for another month. But after she got home from work, she noticed a significant discharge and so she and husband Jhamel, 37, headed to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster just to be careful.
“Next thing you know, surprise,” Claire said with a laugh on Wednesday in front of a throng of media. Their little girl was born via an emergency C-section at 35 weeks.
The baby was born so early that Claire and Jhamel haven’t even decided on a name yet – they are still processing what happened.
All they know is the baby nicknamed for now as “Clarita” was born healthy at 12:01 a.m., despite only being four pounds and 10 ounces.
“She’s priceless, very priceless,” said Claire, holding back tears.
Claire talked several times about her “history” with childbirth – her first child was stillborn in 2017. She was thankful for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staff at RCH, which of the best units in the country.
A recent Canadian Neonatal Network annual report ranked it No. 1 in the country for having the lowest neonatal mortality rate. The unit has a rate of 99.5 per cent of babies in care surviving.
Claire and Jhamel visited RCH two to three times a week during the pregnancy.
The family hopes to head home in a few days as Claire recovers.
Then they can have their big party.
