Minden Medical Center rang in 2016 with its first baby Friday evening.
Paris Haila Mardis, born at 7:55 p.m., came into this world on New Year’s Day weighing in at five pounds, six ounces and 18 inches long. She is the daughter of Taneisha Rhodes and Michael Mardis.
Taneisha Rhodes says she was not expecting her daughter until Feb. 2.
“I had an emergency C-section Friday evening,” she said. “She was a surprise baby. I just went to the doctor Thursday, and Friday, I had a baby. It was just that quick.”
With high blood pressure and toxemia, Rhodes says Dr. Robert Russell, OB/GYN felt it best to go ahead and perform a cesarean section for the health of both her and the baby. Now that little Paris is here, she said they are both fine.
“She didn’t have to go to the NICU or anything, no oxygen, nothing,” she said. “She’s a strong baby.”
Russell says he was blessed to have been able to deliver MMC’s first 2016 baby.
“I am fortunate to work alongside an outstanding team of clinical and support staff to bring new life into this world and our community on New Year’s Day and year-round,” Russell said.
“We consider it a privilege to serve the labor and delivery needs of Minden. Our expectation is that every patient and his or her family will have a positive experience and genuinely feel our commitment to delivering high quality, compassionate care.”
She says Paris has been with her since she was born, adding they bathed her and helped her take care of her the entire time. Rhodes says she enjoyed keeping Paris with her through the recovery process following her C-section. This is part of the hospital’s Baby Friendly Initiative, which promotes bonding between mom and baby through skin-to-skin contact and other ways.
MMC’s Baby Place delivers more than 700 babies each year. The Baby Place offers support services including childbirth and breastfeeding classes, breastfeeding support groups and access to a staff lactation consultant and breastfeeding counselors.
Paris is the granddaughter of maternal grandparents Ladell Rhodes and the late Michael Rhodes and paternal grandparents Rosie and Herbert Mardis.
Paris will go home with her family to Homer.