The number of births in Southern Manitoba continues to climb each year. Dr. Shelley Buchan with Southern Health-Sante Sud says there were 2,740 births to residents of the region last year, compared to 2,649 the year previous.

But Dr. Buchan says there were fewer births at hospitals in the region last year. She notes that's because more and more mothers are choosing to deliver their babies in Winnipeg. Last year there were 1707 births at hospitals in the former Central and South Eastman Health regions compared to 1756 the year before.

Dr. Buchan says this trend reflects how the region is carved out geographically in Manitoba. "We have those communities that are right around Winnipeg where it's actually closer to go to Winnipeg than it is to say go to Boundary Trails or Bethesda Hospital," she says. "We just know that people make whatever makes sense for families." Dr. Buchan says some mothers are also going to Winnipeg if they're considered high risk.

The fact only 62% of mothers from the region deliver at hospitals in the region is of no concern, says Dr. Buchan. "If it's closer to go to Winnipeg then that's the natural place that they should go."
    
"With everything, as more demand is there, then there's just a natural planning toward trying to meet the service needs for that," explains Dr. Buchan. "And in rural Manitoba there's always a recruitment effort for all those front line providers. So that's just natural too," she says.

Dr. Buchan says having a growing region is very positive. "You just know that it's a vibrant region with new births and that's exciting," she adds.