Reporters paced up and down the corridor outside the newly opened St. Patrick Hospital Family and Maternity Center like expectant parents, waiting for permission to meet some of its first arrivals in over 40 years.

It was worth the wait, as we were introduced to Colter Hopkins, less than 24 hours old. Colter's mother, 21 year-old Amanda, was beaming as she held her first-born son, who weighed in at eight pounds, two ounces and was 22 inches long.

Colter was one of five new arrivals at the family and Maternity Center to arrive since it opened on August 3.

Kathy Shafer, Regional Director of Women's Services, said five babies were born in their seven birthing suites since Monday's opening day.

"We've had five at press time," Shafer said, without revealing how many were boys or girls. "We're on our fourth day and it's been fairly busy.We're really feeling like an OB unit now."

Pediatric Hospitalist Laurie Carter said the new facility at St. Patrick Hospital is just what the doctor ordered.

"I think it's wonderful," Dr. Carter said. "The people and everything they've put into creating this family and maternity center has just been amazing. I'm glad they thought of everything. It's hard to point out just one thing because there are so many parts that are involved in creating what we have here right now."

The end result, of course, is the mothers and babies.

"He's the sweetest thing ever", said Amanda Hopkins about her new son, Colter."He's been feeding very well, sleeping very well, he's just happy and healthy."

The last baby to be born at St. Patrick Hospital was in 1975, and the tradition is now continuing at the Family and Maternity Center.

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