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Livingston, N.J. -- Saint Barnabas Medical
Center continues to lead the state in childbirths with 7,132
babies born at the hospital in 2000. The windfall of babies
reflects a relatively steady increase in deliveries over
the past four years. In 1999, the hospital had a record-breaking
7,198 babies.
The largest baby delivered at Saint Barnabas Medical Center
in 2000 was a bouncing 11 pounds, 13 ounces in contrast to
the smallest surviving infant who weighed in at 14 ounces.
The average age of first time mothers was between 29 and
34 years of age. The month with the most deliveries was August
2000, with 627 births.
Credit for having the most deliveries in New Jersey is due,
in part, to Saint Barnabas Medical Center's distinguished
reputation in the areas of assisted reproduction, a strong
team of maternal-fetal specialists for high-risk pregnancies,
and the most advanced intensive care for all premature and
sick newborn infants. Saint Barnabas is a state-designated
Regional Perinatal Center. In 2000, 1,468 premature infants
and critically ill newborns were cared for in its 50-bed
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It is one of only 16
NICUs nationwide to care for more than 1,000 babies each
year. Babies treated in the Saint Barnabas NICU receive the
highest level of intensive care and sophisticated technology
provided in a family-centered environment that fosters parental
attachment, as well as healing, growth and development.
Quality prenatal care and advances in neonatal care have
improved the survival rate of premature infants. Success
in the treatment of extremely low birth weight infants is
measured by the rate of occurrence of chronic lung disease,
a particularly common phenomenon in this group of infants.
Because of meticulous attention to respiratory care, the
Saint Barnabas NICU is among the few hospitals nationwide
with the lowest rate of this complication.
Having achieved this reputation, it is not surprising that
Saint Barnabas attracts couples expecting multiples. In 2000,
there were 226 sets of twins, 21 sets of triplets and one
set of quadruplets equaling a total of 519 multiple birth
infants. Thanks to more precise reproductive technology,
the rate of multiple births is down from 1999 when there
was a total of 630 multiple birth infants.
For more information about Saint Barnabas Medical Center's
Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science, the Department
of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, or the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit, please call Women's Health Services at (973) 322-5360.
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