At least 17 nurses in the labor and delivery unit at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, are all pregnant at the same time, surpassing the unit's previous record of 11 simultaneous pregnancies. The nurses expect to give birth this year, creating a unique bonding experience among colleagues.
Record-breaking baby boom
The announcement was made by Amberly Saner, a nurse manager at the hospital's labor and delivery unit, in an interview with ABC News on Monday, June 29. “It's exciting,” Saner said. “We kind of found out over a period of a couple of months how many people were pregnant and it just kept growing and growing.” The previous record of 11 pregnant staffers had also made headlines.
Fifteen of the 17 pregnant nurses gathered for a group photo at the hospital, all wearing matching uniforms. Several are expecting their first child, while others are having their second or more. Among them are nurses Maddie and Rileigh, who requested to use only their first names for privacy.
Personal stories and friendships
Maddie, who is 26 weeks pregnant with her second child, and Rileigh, who is about 31 weeks along with her second child, have both worked at Miami Valley for the past five years. They are best friends, and Rileigh said, “I'm planning on having Maddie deliver my baby.” The nurses have been exchanging tips and experiences, and they expect their children to grow up and play together.
Staffing concerns addressed
Despite the upcoming maternity leaves, Saner assured that the unit, which employs nearly 200 nurses and support nurses, will not face staffing shortages. “We have a lot of support nurses that can pick up [shifts]. We also have a lot of part-time staff that can pick up an extra day and so, we're not too worried about the coverage,” she said.
The unit's colleagues share a close and supportive relationship. Saner noted, “It's a really special bond between the nurses and I think they really enjoy being able to deliver each [other's babies]. They're just really comfortable and, you know, they trust the people that are in that room with them when they're delivering and they just want them to care for them. So it's a pretty cool thing.”
Shared experience and excitement
Rileigh expressed the group's sentiment: “We're all really excited and to be able to share this together. This wasn't like, our plan, but it just so happened to work out like that. We're really just lucky to be able to go through this experience together.” The nurses are looking forward to supporting each other through pregnancy and parenthood, strengthening their bond both professionally and personally.
