shortage in the NICU

A shortage in the NICU, yes; but not of babies, beds. This has got us holding our breath wondering what crazy-ass adventure might be in store for us.

Check out these latest news bites:

Mom flown to Seattle because no bed available west of Montreal The Province, Friday, May 25, 2007
"They came into our room at the hospital in Vancouver and said there was no neonatal intensive-care bed from here to Montreal, will you go to Seattle?' And I said, 'What are the other options?' and they said there wasn't any other option."

B.C.'s 191 special neonatal beds too few for this year's needs The Province, Friday, May 25, 2007
An increasing number of premature and sick newborns are being sent out of B.C. to receive care.
"For about the last few weeks now, we have seen an unusual surge in demand for neonatal intensive-care beds," Health Minister George Abbott said yesterday.
Of the neonatal-care beds, 122 are split between B.C. Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster and Victoria General Hospital, and the rest in regional hospitals.
Generally, when B.C.'s neonatal intensive-care beds are full, the babies are sent to Alberta.
Don Stewart, spokesman for the Calgary Health Region, said neonatal intensive-care units across Western Canada have reached capacity.
Calgary recently sent four pre-term mothers to Montana and one to Toronto.

I have a girlfriend here whose son was shipped off to Spokane when he was born at 30 weeks, 3 weeks ago. They are still there.

If things do go awry and we end up in Edmonton, I have a number of Aunts living nearby. Royal Columbian/Women's? Well, we are an hour away from family and friends. Calgary? We have friends there too. But Seattle, Spokane, Manitoba? We're right stuffed. Pray this baby stays put.