LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The birth of a baby has been causing quite a bit of excitement in Fort Simpson.

Gracyn Tanche holds her son Nateyaa Tanche who was born two weeks early in Fort Simpson on Feb. 18. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Nateyaa Tanche, who was born on Feb. 18, has the distinction of being one of the few babies born in recent years in the village instead of in Yellowknife. Nateyaa missed being born in the territorial capital by four days.

Gracyn Tanche, Nateyaa's mother, was scheduled to leave Fort Simpson on Feb. 21 for Yellowknife. According to clinical practice guidelines, all births in the territory are suppose to take place in the hospitals in either Inuvik or Yellowknife or with the midwife program in Fort Smith.

Most women in Fort Simpson spend their last four weeks of pregnancy in Yellowknife. Gracyn, however, wanted to be close to her family during the final weeks of her first pregnancy.

Because both she and the baby were in good health Gracyn was given permission by a doctor to stay until two weeks before her due date. She did have to sign a waiver, however, saying she understood the risks and wouldn't take legal action if anything went wrong.

Gracyn was at her sister Kristen McPherson's house watching television on Feb. 17 when the first signs came that Nateyaa wasn't following the prescribed schedule. At 9 p.m. her water broke.

"We were both like 'oh my God, what's going on,'" said McPherson.

Since neither sister had had a baby before neither were sure what to expect. Gracyn said she was very surprised because she didn't have any warning signs like the ones she'd been reading about in pregnancy books prior to her water breaking.

"He just surprised us," she said.

The sisters headed for the Health Centre where they were joined by their mother Catherine Simms, Gracyn's boyfriend Casper Mantla as well as other family members and friends. Soon there were nine people waiting to see what would happen.

At that point Gracyn still expected to give birth in Yellowknife and her family was making plans to drive to the city. A medevac flight was due to arrive at approximately midnight for another patient and Gracyn was to be included on the flight.

Then the contractions started at around 10:30 p.m. By the time the plane arrived Gracyn was too far in labour to leave the village.

Dr. Ivan Woolfrey and a team of five nurses oversaw the birth as Gracyn's family waited anxiously. At 5:25 a.m. Nateyaa was born weighing six pounds, seven ounces.

"I'm really happy, everything went well," Gracyn said.

Gracyn said she's glad the birth took place in the village where all of her family could be present instead of in Yellowknife where only a few would have been able to make the trip. Woolfrey and the nurses were very good and were accommodating about having so many family members in the waiting room, she said.

After the birth Gracyn and her son were flown to Yellowknife for observation because he was born early. Since returning on Feb. 20 Gracyn said lots of people have approached her and been excited about the local birth.

Gracyn has also been enjoying the first few weeks with her son.

"I love it, I couldn't ask for anything more," she said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.