News Release
Oh, boy and girl! Mercy Women & Infants' Center welcomes record number of babies in May
June 9, 2009
Mercy’s Women & Infants’ Center was busier than usual in the month of May with a record-setting 464 babies born during May 2009. The new record surpasses the previous record by 16 babies— which was set in May 2008. Helping to set the new record were 11 sets of twins and two sets of triplets. In breaking down the number, 239 were boys and 225 were girls.
“The record-setting births at Mercy signals continued community support and endorsement of the quality of care that our staff and physicians provide to mothers and babies,” says Jackie Frost-Kunnen, Mercy Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services.
Designed to provide state-of-the-art technology to mothers, babies and families throughout the birthing and postpartum experience, Mercy’s Women & Infants’ Center consists of a specialized Maternity Triage and Treatment Unit, a Birthing Unit with three C-section suites and a Mother/Baby Unit with a well-baby nursery. Since relocating Mercy’s Women & Infants’ Center to the East Tower in 2006, yearly birthing records have been set. In 2008, 4,948 babies were welcomed into the world at Mercy.
With the record number of births, many wonder if a national baby boom is occurring. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2007 (the last year national birth statistics are available) a record number of babies were born in the United States– 4,317,000— which was more than what was born in 1957 during the height of the baby boom. Experts say to be considered a baby boom, the percentage increases would have to be much larger than the single-digit increases that are currently occurring. Although a national baby boom may not be occurring, Mercy continues to have an increase in births.
Contact Gregg Lagan
Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines
515-247-3050
cell 515-490-6636
