Record Baby Boom at St. Peter’s Hospital
From left: Ugne and Mila Wasileski; Kim, Pete, and Charlotte Roberson; Brittni, Angelina, and Vincent Ottati; Priscilla and Madelynn Frisbee; Jackie and Josie Nealon; Meagan and Wesley Donaldson; Nicolle and Maverick Mallinson; Katie and Audrey Orsino; Desiree and Baby Girl Myers. Missing from photo: Amanda and Isaac Brimlow; Samantha, Finnigan, and Logan MacCormack; Rachel and Porter Rae Duggan; Alice and Leon Topovski; Kimberly, Erica, Charlotte, and Baby Girl Hannell; Amy, James Jr., and Lucas Saburro.
The Women’s and Children’s Services department at St. Peter’s Hospital is shattering records, delivering nearly 300 babies during the month of August — more than any other month in the hospital’s history.
“At this pace, we’re on track to deliver more than 3,000 babies by year’s end,” said Sandra Michael, RN, BSN, SNT, MST, CLC, manager of community integration and lactation services at St. Peter’s Hospital.
The hospital averages around 250 births per month. During the month of August, staff delivered 296 babies, including more than 100 babies in just seven days. For the entire staff, that meant long hours, a lot of flexibility, and a tremendous amount of hard work. Add to that another twist: 20 staff members have been, or are, pregnant this year—another record for the department!
“It’s really been an unprecedented year so far, and it’s not even over yet,” said JoAnn Lionarons, BSN, RNC, C-EFM, CLC, interim director of St. Peter’s Hospital Women’s and Children’s Services. “While the records being set are noteworthy, what is truly remarkable is the dedication and selflessness our staff has demonstrated. Everyone is working incredibly hard, going above and beyond, to make sure our patients receive the high-level of compassionate care they not only expect, but deserve during such a delicate, transformative time in their lives.”
“I’m so proud of our nurses, who epitomize grace under pressure, especially those who were pregnant themselves,” said Tammy Stone, nursing supervisor for Labor and Delivery. “Pregnancy itself can be challenging, and yet these women continued to work extra-long shifts, and demonstrated both resiliency and resourcefulness to make sure our patients, including our newborns, were taken care of.”
Despite the record number of births, staff never diverted a labor and delivery patient to another hospital, and the neonatal intensive care unit’s volume remained low, which Lionarons credits to the highly trained and skilled staff.
“It’s taken a lot of coordination and teamwork between all of our staff, from our intake staff and our nurses, to our midwives, physicians, and department leaders,” Lionarons said. “They all love what they do. They are intelligent, kind, and great teachers. They never hesitate to help one another, and that always translates into the best care possible for the patient.”
Earlier this year, St. Peter’s Hospital received the 2019 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for obstetrics for the fifth consecutive year. St. Peter’s was also the first hospital in the Capital Region to earn the international “Baby-Friendly” hospital designation.
For information on delivering a baby at St. Peter’s Hospital, as well as breastfeeding, placental donation, infant care, or parenting classes, please call 518-525-1388 or visit https://www.sphp.com/womens-childrens-sph.
