By Mary Owen
A Mill City baby boy almost didn’t become Santiam Hospital’s first baby born in the new Family Birth Center.
Cade Steven Childress clocked in at 1:13 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, just seven minutes after mom, Megan, and dad, Tyson, arrived at the hospital.
“We got there at 1:06, got into the room at 1:09, and he was born at 1:13,” Megan said. “Everyone was so supportive for how quickly he came!”
Megan was excited to be giving birth to Cade in one of the new rooms, complete with a spa tub she never got to use. She had been hoping to have her baby at the birthing center from the time she found out she was pregnant, she said.
“The views are pretty,” she said. “You don’t feel like you’re in a hospital room.”
Mabel Dzata, a certified nurse midwife, was there for Cade’s birth. The newborn boy weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long. His birth was celebrated by big brother, Carson, 3, and grandparents, Bill and Wanda Childress and Steve Greenwood.
“Carson brought cupcakes,” Megan said. “He’s mister big brother. He’s all excited!”
The proud parents were even more excited when they were presented with a $500 savings bond and a wagon filled with gifts, all presented by Terry Fletchall, chief executive officer of the hospital and Carl Hendricks, the first baby to be born in the original hospital facility.
“We wanted to commemorate the first baby born in the new Family Birth Center,” Fletchall said. “It is a major milestone for Santiam Hospital, one we felt should be celebrated with the first baby born.”
Both parents were pleased with the personal care they received from staff at the birth center.
“It has been really nice being here,” Megan said. “The baby is born in and stays in the same room. You make yourself at home and stay there. It’s more comfortable, more convenient. And it’s calming for the baby as well.”
Staff members at the Family Birth Center, which opened Feb. 12, are with the parents and baby every step of the way, according to hospital officials.
Tours of Santiam Hospital’s Family Birth Center can be arranged by contacting Lacie at 503-769-9247 or lhartlieb@santiamhospital.org.
