Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Jan 09/06) - The birth of any child is a wondrous event, but Little Sadie is special because she is the first baby born under the midwifery program at the Fort Smith Health Centre.

Proud parents Jodi and Lance McMahon hold their newborn daughter - and Fort Smith's New Year's baby. Sadie Scarlett McMahon was born Jan. 5. - photo courtesy of Jodi and Lance McMahon

In Fort Smith, Sadie Scarlett McMahon is also the New Year's baby. She came into this world at 7:53 a.m. on Jan. 5 and weighed in at 6 lbs, 15 oz.

"It's an exciting way to start the new year," said Sadie's mother, Jodi McMahon.

Jodi said Sadie's arrival was also exciting because it is her first daughter. She and husband, Lance McMahon, have two young sons.

"It was very special and a very nice birth," said Gisela Becker, one of two midwives working in Fort Smith. "We were happy to help out."

The program, which began last year, has so far delivered six babies, either in a birthing room at the hospital or at home. Before being accepted into the hospital, the midwives worked on their own for years.

While Jodi McMahon, 33, is pleased to have a new year's baby, she said the main thing is that her daughter was born healthy, adding she appreciates the help of the midwives which allowed her to give birth in Fort Smith.

"It was great because I could stay here with my family," said the Aurora College instructor.

Fort Smith is one of only three NWT communities, along with Yellowknife and Inuvik, where there are health services to deliver babies.

The new year's baby in Yellowknife is Chad Mitchell Anaittuq, who was born on Jan. 1 at 1:54 p.m.

"I'm really excited and happy," said mother Sheila Anaittuq of Kugaaruk, Nunavut.

Her son, with a head covered in silky dark hair, weighed 8 lbs, 11 oz when born at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Anaittuq, the mother of four other children, had been waiting to give birth in Yellowknife since Nov. 27. She was anxious to return home, where she said her family was very happy about the new baby.

As of Jan. 6, Inuvik was still awaiting its first baby of 2006. According to officials at Stanton Territorial Hospital, six babies have been born there since New Year's day -- four girls and two boys.

- with files from Dorothy Westerman