3 ‘exhausting’ days of early labour result in 2022 New Year’s baby for Chilliwack couple

Baby Ada must have sensed just how bad the year 2021 was because she held on for four days past her due date to make her appearance as Chilliwack’s 2022 New Year’s baby.

New mom Kayla Smith was due to deliver her first baby at the end of 2021, but Dec. 28 came and went with no labour.

The following day, she began feeling irregular contractions. She and husband Matthaus went to Chilliwack General Hospital (CGH) on Dec. 30, but they were told to go back home as Kayla wasn’t in active labour yet.

Their midwife was convinced it was going to be a Dec. 31 baby, Matthaus said, but that’s not what either of them wanted.

“I’d rather have the first baby of the year, or one of the first, than the last baby of 2021,” he said.

The contractions lasted for three days. The year 2021 rolled into 2022.

Kayla thought her water broke, so she went to CGH around 5 a.m. on Jan. 1. Since her contractions were still irregular, she thought she’d be sent home again, but it turned out she was in active labour.

Several hours later, at 1:49 p.m., Ada arrived. Daina Meakes from Chilliwack Midwifery helped deliver the 6 lb. 14 oz. New Year’s baby.

“The three days of the early contractions, that was exhausting. But I figured I had a really easy pregnancy, something had to come and bite me in the butt,” Kayla said with a laugh.

Being pregnant during the pandemic was a “roller coaster” and it was especially difficult over the last several weeks, Kayla added.

With the increase in COVID cases, they stayed solitary through Christmas. They didn’t gather with family over the holidays to ensure they’d be healthy for when Ada was born. It was just the two of them.

It was “lonely” but worth it, Kayla said.

After Ada was born, she came home to another member of the family – 11-month-old dog Kimber.

“He’s listening really well to us and keeping his space. He was pretty mouthy with us before she came but he he hasn’t even opened his mouth with her,” Matthaus said.

Kayla agrees Kimber has been a good boy.

“Any time she makes a little peep or squeal he’s all ears. He’s going to be a good big brother,” she said.

READ MORE: ‘Wild ride’ for first baby of 2021 born at Chilliwack General Hospital

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