Baby bump in the Thompson Okanagan

Families are caring for hundreds of new babies in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm.

Last year, Interior Health welcomed 6,136 newborns in hospitals, an increase of 489 births or a nine per cent increase over 2020.

“Interior Health is happily welcoming our tiniest patients to the world as communities grow throughout the region,” says Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO . “I would like to congratulate all of the families who welcomed newborns last year and thank our dedicated maternity teams for ensuring the highest quality of care for these little ones and their families.”

Kelowna General Hospital saw the largest increase in births with 197 more babies being born in 2021 compared to the previous year. In Penticton, the birth rate jumped more than 20 percent, with 105 more births than 2020.

In 2021, Interior Health saw an average of 511 births per month across its region, while in 2020, the average was 471 births per month.