Maggie Campbell resides in Prince Edward Island and is a loving wife and mother. She is busy getting ready to welcome her fourth child — a baby girl! The thrill is evident in her house, as her three boys can’t wait to greet their little sister joined ranks. Amidst this joyful occasion looms a significant concern—Maggie and her family are navigating the challenges of pregnancy without a dedicated family doctor.
Originally from Kensington, P.E.I, Maggie has spent the last ten years living across the Atlantic region. Her own perinatal experiences in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and now P.E.I. have opened Aaron’s eyes to deprivation in maternal health. Yet, this pregnancy feels different. Her primary care doctor just retired, leaving her doctor-less at this key transition point. Today, she fears what her own family will do as they navigate their health care.
A few weeks ago, Maggie secured her first appointment with a new family doctor through the province’s patient registry after trying for several weeks. This recent development came as a relief, but it doesn’t alleviate her concerns completely. She understands just how important uninterrupted medical treatment is. Uncertainties from her prior pregnancy, which was matched with notable health scares, rooted this lesson from a former experience.
Maggie’s second son almost didn’t make it past 20 weeks after developing complications with the placenta and ran the risk of life-threatening complications. Their painful journey required her son to remain in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for an entire week. Preterm jaundice was one of the most significant issues at that time. Through all of these experiences, she’s honed her sensitivity. Now, she appreciates the crucial part a family doctor can have in helping to identify and mitigate risks throughout pregnancy.
Maggie’s pregnancy comes with complicated medical conditions. On that, she has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism and severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), further complicating her case. When she discovered she was pregnant, she had a difficult decision to make. She made the difficult choice to discontinue her ADHD medication in order to reduce any risk to her developing fetus. This has left her managing symptoms without pharmaceutical support while anticipating the demands of a newborn and three active boys.
Maggie’s story sadly reflects the reality of close to one in five families all across Canada. They face the same healthcare system riddled with shortages and access issues. Losing primary care access when you don’t have a dedicated family doctor adds another stressor to an already complicated experience. That’s even more the case for those with preexisting health needs or high-risk pregnancies.
Though these worries are front of mind, Maggie is nonetheless excited to greet her daughter in the coming weeks. Her two sons are excited and counting the days until they will be big brothers! They’ve gotten right on board to assist in getting their home ready for the new ever expanding family member. Each day takes them further along from their family becoming whole and complete.
