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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife's first baby of 2013 took his time coming into the world but now that he has arrived his parents could not be more thrilled.

Proud parents Brent Gibeault and Cynthia Pablovich hold their new son, Parker Brent Gibeault, in the obstetrics ward of Stanton Territorial Hospital on Jan. 3. Parker, the first Yellowknifer born in 2013, came into the world at 4:16 a.m., weighing seven pounds, seven ounces. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

Parker Brent Gibeault was born at 4:16 a.m. on Jan. 3, making him the first Yellowknifer to be born this year. At the time of his birth, he tipped the scales at seven pounds, seven ounces and measured 51 cm.

Parker's parents, Brent Gibeault and Cynthia Pablovich, had been expecting their new arrival since Dec. 28, which was Pablovich's due date.

"It was an any day kind of thing," said Gibeault. "Everything was going well and ..."

"We were just waiting for him to decide to come out," Pablovich finished for him.

"Yes," he agreed. "He was just happy in his hot tub."

Pablovich was eating breakfast with her mother, who was visiting from Whitehorse in anticipation of the birth at about 11 a.m. on Jan. 2 when she went into labour. At first, she was not sure if it was time for the baby to be born, but after calling Stanton Territorial Hospital staff, she was advised to go to the hospital just in case.

Hearing that the birth of his first child may be nearing, Gibeault left work to drive Pablovich to the hospital and stayed on hand until Parker arrived.

"Everything went really well," Gibeault said as the couple spoke with Yellowknifer in their hospital room on the evening of Jan. 3.

"Cynthia didn't take anything, she did it all natural and it went very smooth for us, actually, considering so many things that you hear about and see on TV."

Pablovich credited doula courses - non-medical labour coaching - the couple took at the Yellowknife Gaia Integrative Clinic with helping to ease the birth.

"They really empower you and make you feel confident," she said.

"They give you all your options ahead of time so you can figure out what you want, or ideally what you would like to happen," Gibeault agreed.

In the end, Pablovich opted not to take any drugs and was successful in having an all-natural birth.

Both of Parker's grandmothers, Effie Mullen from Whitehorse and Joan Gibeault from Yellowknife, were at the hospital for Parker's arrival.

The couple wished to thank the doctors and nursing staff at Stanton who they said were great throughout their stay in the hospital. Pablovich said they were hopeful that Parker would be able to go home the following day.

Parker is the couple's first child, the first grandchild on Pablovich's side and the fifth grandchild on the Gibeault side, said the proud parents.

As the couple spoke with Yellowknifer about the birth, they could barely take their eyes off of their new baby, stroking his head and soothing him when he let out a gurgle or a sneeze. As the three sat together in the hospital bed, Parker's eyes were open much of the time, surveying his new world.

"We're thrilled," said Gibeault about how he felt. "We're excited."

"Totally in love," added Pablovich.

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