By Daniel J. Calderón
Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs
Brooke Army Medical Center rang in the New Year by welcoming the hospital’s first baby of 2020. The 7-pound, 9-ounce, 19.5-inch-long baby girl was born at 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Although BAMC’s first baby did not win the city-wide baby race conducted by local San Antonio hospitals, the parents did receive a gift basket, which was presented by BAMC and 959th Medical Group leaders on Jan. 3
“On behalf of the BAMC Auxiliary and all of our BAMC staff, congratulations,” said Brig. Gen. Wendy Harter, BAMC’s commanding general, as she presented the gift basket.
New parents, Airman 1st Class Anna Tritley and her husband, Sean C. Tritley said they are thrilled to welcome baby Cora Noel into the world.
“This is our first baby and we’re both very excited,” he said. “She is our future and we are ready to take her home.”
BAMC staff delivered 1,800 babies in 2019. In the Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby wards, more than 100 active duty military and civilian personnel deliver care to hundreds of patients each month.
“We also have a robust GME (Graduate Medical Education) program for Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Anesthesia,” said Lawanda Clark, the chief nursing officer in charge for BAMC’s Labor and Delivery ward.
Over the past year, Clark said they have been working with the Pediatrics Department to integrate donor breastmilk as a supplement for breastfeeding mothers. The introduction of the supplement is meant to reduce the number of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admissions and increase the rates of breastfeeding.
The units also serve as training platforms for new obstetrical nurses for the Air Force, Navy and Army Phase 2 students.
Sean Tritley said he and his wife are thankful for the gift from the BAMC Auxiliary and the visit from the commanding general.
“It’s awesome and we appreciate the basket,” he said. “It is pretty thrilling that our baby is BAMC’s first baby of the year and of the decade.”