One man was charged with assault after punching the mother of a two-day-old baby while she was recuperating in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital's maternity ward.
Police were called to the hospital shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday by a nurse who told them the victim, 27, was assaulted while holding her two-day-old daughter.
The victim told police there was an argument between her and the suspect and at one point, while holding her child, she was punched in the head.
Fearing for the child's safety, she placed the baby in a basinette and pushed her assailant out of the room. The suspect then fled the hospital.
Police said neither the victim or the infant were injured in the altercation.
Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the suspect's behaviour.
Police have not said what the relationship is between the man and the woman.
Police arrested Daniel Archibald Frank, 30, of Tofino, on Nicol Street shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday without incident.
Frank was held in custody until his appearance in Nanaimo provincial court Tuesday charged with one count of assault plus breach of probation from a previous court order in February, when he was prohibited from having consumed alcohol while in the presence of the victim.