Surprise baby delivered in Colville Lake health centre
Community members assisted when Stephanie Orlias went into labour almost two months early
The baby's mother went into labour almost two months early, before she told anyone she was pregnant.
When Stephanie Orlias started having contractions, she had no choice but to head to the health centre.
“It was painful, and kind of scary at the same time. I couldn't really control my breathing that much. I was just worried about the baby, if she was going to be OK,” she says.
The staff at the health centre have no training in delivering babies. They called for a medevac flight to come to the community.
They also started making calls, including to Orlias's aunt, Laura Tobac.
“They said come to the health centre right away. There's a baby that's gonna be born and that's my niece. I was just shocked,” says Tobac.
Luckily, she had recently taken first aid training and rushed to the health centre on a snowmobile.
Tobac held Orlias’s hand and timed her contractions. Others helped by setting up equipment and keeping Orlias calm.
Everyone relaxed when they heard a paramedic happened to be in town.
“We were lucky then. So he came with his equipment and started setting up things. And gave her an IV,” says Tobac. “I was kind of nervous because it was a little too early and you don’t know if the baby is going to be OK, and the mother.”
Community members helped by cleaning snow off the runway for the medevac. An N.W.T. Power Corporation truck became a makeshift ambulance, driving the team to Orlias.
The plane arrived just in time.
“We waited and you could hear them say the baby's born, waited for the baby to cry but nothing. So we were sort of just praying to ourselves, trying to give each other strength,” says Tobac. “Then we heard the baby cry and we all had a sigh of relief. We were thankful.”
A medical team examined Orlias and her daughter in Yellowknife to ensure they were healthy. They are now back in Colville Lake. Orlias is still working on finding a name.
Her aunt calls the little girl a miracle baby.
“The biggest surprise. A lot of joy. And happiness,” she says. “I was really proud of the community of Colville Lake because they really pulled together.”
Orlias says she's not surprised by how her community stepped up to help.
“In something like this, everyone pulls together and helps you out, it's always like that here. I'm grateful for everyone that was there with me.”