Izabella Lepper of Union City is first baby of 2015 born at Oaklawn Hospital

Izabella Lepper of Union City is first baby of 2015 born at Oaklawn Hospital

MARSHALL – Oaklawn’s first baby of 2015 is Izabella Anne-Marie Lepper, born at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. The child is the daughter of Brandon and Adrienne Lepper of Union City.

The parents and child received a celebratory gift basket from the hospital in addition to the service that families of newborns have come to expect at Oaklawn’s Birth Center.

Little Izabella weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces at birth, and measured 19½  inches long, Oaklawn’s nursing staff reported.

“I already have an Oaklawn physician that I see, and I have been very happy there, so I decided to use the Oaklawn Birth Center,” Adrienne Lepper said. “I like that it is a private, small hospital and the staff was amazing!”

The Leppers said they especially appreciated the staff’s efforts to anticipate their needs.

“We never had to ask for anything,” Adrienne said. “The nurses answered all of our questions and made us feel comfortable.

“As a matter of fact, we were so happy with the care, baby Izabella is sending the staff nurses a gift basket as a ‘thank you’,” she said.

That turns out to be a basket exchange, because the hospital staff presented the Lepper family with a gift basket of its own, containing items for the child and family.

The Leppers received an embroidered blanket proclaiming their child as the hospital’s first 2015 baby, a sleeper outfit, lotions, outlet covers, sanitizing solution, coffee mug, support pillow, a variety of edible treats and a memory box.

Izabella joins more than 2,000 babies that have been delivered at the Birth Center since the start of 2012.

At Oaklawn, a new mother remains in one comfortable, homelike room from labor through the time she takes her baby home. Fathers, support persons and siblings are welcome at all times, and other family members and friends may visit during normal visiting hours.

Each of the 11 private rooms for labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum care is decorated in soft colors and features a private bathroom and shower, a rocking chair and other amenities to make the mother and baby feel at ease. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs.

Direct access to the Birth Center is controlled by a computer-controlled security system, permitting staff to observe visitors visually before they may enter or leave, or lock all of the center’s doors automatically. The nursing station features a code-alert monitoring system for the electronic monitoring of each infant’s location in the center.

Experienced obstetrical nurses are always prepared to answer questions or respond to any need, and can provide information about natural relaxation, breathing techniques and pain medication. The Birth Center also offers pre-natal and childbirth education classes.

For additional information about the Birth Center and its services, go to www.oaklawnhospital.org or call (269) 789-3929.