West Chester Hospital has welcomed its first babies born in the new maternity unit last week.
Mandy and Michael McCrory, of West Chester, welcomed baby girl Kaitlynn at 8:01 a.m. April 16 — the first day of business for the hospital’s new maternity unit.
“With a brand new facility, you have the best of everything,” Michael McCrory said. “There is always anxiety about these things, but the team made it all go so easily.”
Kaitlynn weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces, and joins older brother Andrew, age 4. The baby was delivered by Dr. Maria Gerber, an obstetrician at West Chester Hospital, with Dr. Dana Lovell, medical director of maternity services, and an enthusiastic team of nurses.
“Delivering so close to home helped relieve our concern about getting to a downtown hospital during rush hour,” said Mandy McCrory.
A second baby girl was delivered Thursday evening.
West Chester Hospital began construction of the $10 million obstetrical unit on the third floor of the patient care tower last July. Accommodations include a modern birthing center with spacious labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum suites; two operating rooms; multiple triage rooms; a seven-bed well-baby nursery; and an eight-bed Level IIB special care unit.
“After receiving continuous feedback from people in the community about the desire to deliver their babies at West Chester Hospital, and with the tremendous effort which our staff has put forth to open this beautiful new unit, it is truly exciting to have our very first child born,” said Tom Daskalakis, chief operating officer.
Hospital officials expect to see 750 babies delivered within the year. Childbirth education classes and tours of the new unit are offered regularly. To register for classes or a tour, visit UCHealth.com/wchevents.
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