UKIAH, Calif. – Ukiah has welcomed its first baby of 2013.

Jose Castaneda, a healthy baby boy, was born at 2:22 a.m. on New Year’s Day in the Family Birth Center at Ukiah Valley Medical Center.  

Baby Jose, born to Guillermina Ramirez of Ukiah, is welcomed by his five older siblings, all born at UVMC.

Jose was delivered by Karen Crabtree, M.D., and weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces.  

Ms. Ramirez extended a special thank you to Dr. Crabtree and Eliza Thompson, RN, for their exceptional care of both mom and baby.

Each year there are an estimated 440,000 babies born around the world on New Year’s Day.

As the first baby of the year, UVMC provided baby Jose and his family with his first case of disposable diapers, 240 of them to be exact.

Nurses from the Family Birth Center also pooled their resources to provide a stroller, high chair and gift basket full of newborn necessities for the family.  

Teresa Keffeler, RN, made a “Cat in the Hat” baby blanket and the Ukiah Quilters Guild donated a beautiful quilt.

The Family Birth Center had a record number of births, 910, during 2012. All birthing suites were renovated with new paint, window coverings, soft lighting, flat screen TVs, labor beds, bassinettes, glider rockers and sleeper sofas.

In addition to the facility itself, staff at the Family Birth Center provide childbirth education classes, lactation consultations and tours.

You can take a virtual tour of the Family Birth Center at http://bit.ly/UVMCFBC .

With its central location and state-of-the-art facility, the Family Birth Center is attracting new obstetricians and gynecologists to the greater Ukiah area.

Doctors Jessica Hutchins and Seema Nayak are both recent additions to the Women’s Health Center at the Ukiah Valley Rural Health Center and are accepting new patients. For an appointment, please call 707-463-7652.

The Family Birth Center is located in UVMC at 275 Hospital Drive in Ukiah. For more information about the classes provided, please call 707-463-7550.