The mother of B.C.鈥檚 first baby of 2020 had plans for a big party on New Year鈥檚 Eve.
The baby in her belly, however, had even bigger plans.
You couldn鈥檛 blame Claire Tabuada, 39, for planning a New Year鈥檚 bash because she wasn鈥檛 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.
鈥淣ext thing you know, surprise,鈥� 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鈥檛 even decided on a name yet 鈥� they are still processing what happened.
All they know is the baby nicknamed for now as 鈥淐larita鈥� was born healthy at 12:01 a.m., despite only being four pounds and 10 ounces.
鈥淪he鈥檚 priceless, very priceless,鈥� said Claire, holding back tears.
Claire talked several times about her 鈥渉istory鈥� with childbirth 鈥� 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.
