The former operating-room nurse is a specialized foster parent who usually takes in one or two drug babies into her Victoria home. This month, she was caring for four of the incredibly fragile, high-needs infants. Three are crystal-meth babies.
"Some get upset by the crying," said Ms. Hatch, 61. "But I keep the calm. I'm not better than anyone else, I've just been doing this a very long time. I have a very good routine."
In the past 25 years, she has fostered more than 60 drug- and alcohol-addicted babies. But now, tiny crystal-meth babies are beginning to dominate.
As the highly addictive street drug ensnares more victims, more babies are being born hooked on it.
By mid-February, at least four more drug-addicted babies will be born in Victoria, according to Erin Brule, of Victoria's Foster Parent Support Services Society.
Since November, Ms. Hatch has dealt with 10 drug-addicted babies in her other role as an adviser for Victoria's Safe Babies Program. The program works with mothers who want to reclaim their babies from foster homes.
She believes that the number of crystal-meth babies is doubling each year.
Vancouver Island Health Authority spokeswoman Suzanne Germain said about 30 to 35 babies have been born to drug-addicted mothers at Victoria General in each of the past three years.
While the annual total has remained relatively stable, within that total, the number of crystal-meth-addicted babies has grown steadily, Ms. Germain said.
"In the scheme of things, more addicts are taking it," she said of the easy-to-find drug which kills the appetite and provides an eight-hour high for $10.
Because addicted mothers almost always have multiple addictions, such as crystal meth and alcohol or prescription drugs and heroin, rarely is a baby born addicted to only one substance. Determining exact numbers of crystal-meth-addicted babies is difficult.
The addicted mothers range in age from 16 to 39, with no single racial group dominant.
Since November, there has been a growing shortage of foster homes for the babies, who require constant care for up to one year. Highly trained foster parents, such as Ms. Hatch, have been forced to accept a few more babies than normal.
"We are desperate for homes," she said. "We are all on overload."
There are eight homes in the area that take in drug-addicted infants. An additional three respite homes provide the full-time caregivers with four-day breaks. Still, some caregivers fear they will burn out. At least four more homes are needed.
But caring for the infants isn't easy.
Once they enter the foster home, following about four weeks of withdrawal in the hospital, they sleep for 22 to 24 hours.
"They're completely shut down," Ms. Hatch said.
Round-the-clock feedings are mandatory for the undersized babies. "You need to be able to function sleep-deprived," said Ms. Hatch, a 4-foot-10, 80-pound dynamo who can function on three consecutive hours of sleep.
In addition to needing little sleep, those who want to care for a drug-addicted baby must live in a two-parent home with no children younger than age 10 and one caregiver must be available full-time.
Often the babies' mothers won't accept what their addiction has done to another human being.
"They're almost always in denial about any impact to the baby," Ms. Hatch said. Some have gone so far as to accuse her of giving their babies drugs.
Up to nine months of age, the babies are rarely taken out of the home because going to a mall would be too much stimulation. "You keep them in a bubble," Ms. Hatch said.
The only out-of-home visits are to see doctors and for immunizations. All other services, such as physiotherapy, are provided in the home.
With two grown children of her own, Ms. Hatch considers it a huge privilege to look after other women's babies. She adopted five of the babies, now aged 17 to 32.
"I've always had a soft spot for medically fragile babies. They have the hardest road ahead."
A harmful mix
Crystal meth -- made from lithium, acetone, drain cleaner, camp-stove fuel and battery acid -- has a devastating effect on a fetus and on the early development of an infant:
Fetuses exposed to the drug experience the same effect as the mother: increased pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature for three days after the high has disappeared.
Babies can be born prematurely and with defects such as spina bifida, club foot, cleft palate, low birth weight and smaller body size.
Affected infants will often turn away from a direct gaze. Clothing tags must be removed. Some don't like to be touched while others want to be held all the time. Some cry inconsolably for hours or smell foul because of the toxins leaving their bodies.
Hyperactivity and delays in speech development are common.
