New Community Hospital welcomes first baby

For the first time in 16 years, Community Hospital delivered its first baby at 4:55 p.m. Thursday, the new hospital's grand opening.

"The staff and the administration here at community hospital could not be more excited," Tonya Chapin, director of the Birth Place said.

Zoie weighed in at 7 pound, 15 ounces, the hospital said, and both mom and baby are doing well.

Community Hospital has not delivered babies since 2000.

"The decision to stop delivering babies 16 years ago at community hospital was a board of trustees and leadership decision at the time," Karen Martsolf, Director of Marketing and Communications said.

The last baby born at the old Community Hospital, now 16 years old. Marc Kelley was born on March 15, 2000.

"We knew it was important to bring that service back and give expectant parents a choice as to where they wanted to deliver their baby locally." Chapin said.

Expecting moms just like Ashlee Davis get to park in this special parking lot.

These doors lead to a special elevator made specifically for expecting mothers.

Once on the third floor nurses will check them into one of the 8 rooms.

“One of the things that makes us unique at community hospital is that We provide what’s called an LDRP experience which means that patience labor, deliver, recover, and postpartum all in the same room, “ Chapin said.

Everyone is welcome, but Martsolf said the suites are set up for lower risk births.

"We could not be more thrilled with how it turned out and we are really looking forward to delivering a lot of babies for decades to come," Martsolf said.

As a gift for being the very first baby born at the new hospital, mom and baby will be presented with a basket from the Community Hospital Foundation containing items such as a newborn shirt from Colorado Baby, 14K white gold earrings for mom from Janet Brink, Board of Trustees board member and former Foundation Board member, a massage, mani/pedi and haircut and style for mom from Crush Salon, a Target gift certificate, a Merry Maids gift certificate and much more.