Leonardtown, MD – MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s Women’s Health and Family Birthing Center (WH&FBC) welcomed five babies on New Year’s Day 2016.
“We had a full house in the birthing center as we entered the New Year,” according to WH&FBC director, Kathy Whitecotten. “We are so excited to help these families begin their new year with such a special experience.”
Carla Ford was one of the first mother’s to give birth New Year’s Day. Avaya “Ava” Briscoe was born at 1:27 p.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 7.7 ounces. Ford went into labor on New Year’s Day and was only in labor for four hours. “She came pretty quickly,” Ford said.
A resident of Waldorf and St. Mary’s County native, Ford delivered her first child, older brother Kieon, now 8, at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and wanted to deliver her second child here as well.
“I just loved my doctors – they just made my experience so great,” she said. “Everything was perfect.”
WH&FBC features five birthing rooms designed with the mother-to-be’s comfort in mind. The center’s 12 private postpartum suites were specifically created to accommodate families during this special time. The hospital has seen a steady rise in births during the last four years. From 2012 to 2015, the birth rate has risen 15.65 percent from 1,093 births in 2012 to 1,264 births in 2015.
Births by Calendar Year
2015 …… 1,264
2014 ……..1,235
2013………1,170
2012………1,093
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital offers a variety of educational opportunities for expectant parents. Coordinated through Health Connections, the hospital’s community outreach program, classes cover topics such as breastfeeding, childbirth, baby care and infant CPR. In addition, tours of the Women’s Health & Family Birthing Center are available the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Parents must register for classes and tours; some fees apply.