FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Mary Washington Hospital welcomed 51 babies, including four sets of twins, during one of the busiest delivery weeks in the hospital's recent history, according to Mary Washington Healthcare.
The births took place at the Women's and Children's Care Center. Hospital officials did not provide the dates of the week or additional information about the newborns and their families.
Ann Weed, director of Women's Services at Mary Washington Hospital, said the number of multiple births made the week particularly unusual.
"In my 28 years at Mary Washington Hospital, I've never seen this many multiple births in a single week and on the unit at the same time," Weed said. "It was a busy week, but our team remained focused on providing safe, high-quality care for every mother and baby. We're honored that so many families trusted us with such an important moment in their lives."
The hospital's Women's and Children's Care team includes obstetric nurses, physicians, midwives, neonatal specialists and support staff. The employees provide care for mothers and newborns from Fredericksburg and the surrounding region.
Most newborns move into routine care after delivery, according to the hospital. Neonatal specialists and the hospital's Level III neonatal intensive care unit are available for premature babies, multiples and newborns who need specialized treatment after birth.
Nancy Young, nurse manager of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, said handling the number of births required coordination among the Labor and Delivery, Mother-Baby and NICU teams.
"Caring for so many mothers and babies requires extraordinary teamwork across our Labor & Delivery, Mother-Baby and NICU teams," Young said. "Our nurses and caregivers are specially trained to care for newborns with a wide range of needs, and we're proud to provide families with expert, compassionate care from the moment their babies arrive."
Young added that weeks with a large number of births demonstrate the demands placed on the hospital's maternity and neonatal employees.
Mary Washington Healthcare also has a partnership with Children's National Hospital that provides families in the Fredericksburg region with access to pediatric and neonatal specialists, according to the health system.
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