Barrage of babies at Greater Regional Health

Anyone driving by the Union County Law Enforcement Center may have needed to double check what they were seeing Wednesday. Four members of local law enforcement were standing in uniform on the front lawn, each holding an infant.

These men are all fathers to new babies, the largest age gap being only 10 weeks. Lance, son of Iowa State Trooper Kaden Bolton and grandson of Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton, was the first to arrive, joining the family on April 19. Just ten days later came baby Lilah, daughter of Creston Police Officer Nicholas Perry.

On June 11, Union County Sergeant Dillon Hightshoe welcomed his daughter Lucy to the world. Rounding out the quad is Creston Police Sergeant Patrick Roche’s daughter Eliza, joining the party on July 1.

Over 10 weeks, Greater Regional Health helped these four families bring new life into the world. However, those in uniform are far from the only ones welcoming new bundles of joy. In June alone, GRH helped birth 25 babies

“We have had 84 babies through June, which is 21 up from last year. We ended the month of June with 25 babies in 30 days,” GRH Director of OB Jill John said. “June was a baby machine!”

As one of those June babies, Lucy’s mother MaKinna Hightshoe said the experience was surreal.

“When we went in, it was us and another patient that was getting induced. But once we left, they were completely full and all the babies were delivered,” MaKinna said. “Every couple of hours, we’d hear the lullaby go off.”

A lullaby is played throughout the hospital every time a new baby is born.

Working in obstetrics can be both challenging but rewarding, something nurse Tricia Williams knows well. Babies always come on their own schedule, no matter how convenient it is for others.

“This was not just one a day; this was three a day and then one then we went two to three days with out a baby,” Williams said. At one point in June, there was only a 10-minute gap between deliveries.

Williams said such an eventful month is exhilarating and tiring.

“We worked hard to make sure everyone had a safe delivery and great experience,” she said. “[I’m] tired, but blessed to be a part of a life-changing and rewarding event. Exhilarated at the same time. [Just need] a little rest and ready to do it again.”

Those interested in Greater Regional Health’s pregnancy and birthing services can visit https://www.greaterregional.org/services/pregnancyandbirth to find out more.