What was so special about the first baby born in Beverly Hospital’s renovated maternity ward
By Sandra T. Molina | smolina@scng.com | San Gabriel Valley Tribune
PUBLISHED: February 9, 2018 at 12:40 pm | UPDATED: February 9, 2018 at 12:43 pm
A day after Beverly Hospital opened its newly renovated Hensel Maternity Center this week, the first baby born in it was to a family very familiar with the facility.
Lauren Ventura, 27, of Covina gave birth by cesarean section to her third daughter at 6:44 p.m. Wednesday.
At 6 pounds, 6 ounces, Cassie Marie Culver was the first baby born in the hospital’s maternity ward, recently upgraded at a cost of $4.7 million. The baby was the third generation of her family — following her mother and grandmother — born at the 69-year-old hospital in Montebello.
“I love that she is with me all the time,” Ventura said of one of the suites’ perks — mom and baby share the room throughout their stay.
Ventura’s mom, Maureen Gonzales, who was also born at Beverly Hospital, was impressed with the suites.
“I shared a room when I had (Lauren), and I like this much better,” she said during a visit with her daughter and granddaughter Thursday.
Prior to renovation, the maternity wing had 40 beds in semi-private rooms, which have now been transformed to 18 new, private suites for a more comfortable and family-centered experience, hospital officials said.
Each room has its own private bathroom, shower and includes a comfortable, fully reclining chair
“With our maternity suite renovation, our goal is to provide mothers, babies and families with privacy, comfort and relaxing environment to celebrate the milestone occasion,” Beverly Hospital President and CEO Alice Cheng said in a written statement. “As a community hospital, we strive to go above and beyond to provide an exceptional patient experience.”
The maternity area used share space with the pediatrics ward, which is now located on the other side of the hospital.
The change is one of a number of the improvements at the hospital. Last year it opened a 10-bed Level II NICU, which houses more than $1 million in advanced equipment and technology. It includes high-tech monitors designed for the unique needs of small newborns, as well as ventilators, incubators and other specialized devices.
Additionally, the maternity center has a specially constructed maternity suite for any mom who may have come in contact with an airborne infection and needs to be isolated, officials said.
