New Women’s Center Welcomes First Babies

By Abby Fox

Most parents can vividly remember the moment their child takes its first breath and life as they’ve known it shifts. For both Kelli Thomas and Alicity Robair, that shift came in late November of last year when the women welcomed their first children at Stillwater Medical’s new Women’s Health Center.

“I was anxious about how my life would change,” Kelli admits. “I’m an older mom and have had nieces and nephews that I’ve cared for, but it’s so much different when you’re the mom. I worried about whether I’d be able to do it all.”

The hospital’s Women’s Health Center is the result of a $20 million state-of-the-art renovation and expansion that includes 14,000 square feet of new space. In addition to providing a more welcoming and comfortable patient experience, the facility allows physicians, nurses and staff to offer better care and employ new technologies to safeguard mothers and newborn babies.

Kelli and her fiancé, Aaron Johnson, initially checked into Stillwater Medical’s old Maternal Child Health Unit. She was in intense labor for hours when the new Women’s Health Center opened its doors. The couple eagerly accepted an invitation to move into one of the center’s new rooms so their daughter could be the first baby born there. They welcomed little Adalynn just two hours later. 

“It was really nice to know that I could go to a hospital that I trust in my town,” Kelli says. “For me, that hasn’t always been the case. But after moving to Stillwater, it’s been a calming feeling.”

Alicity Robair and her husband, Jon, were transferred to Stillwater Medical’s new Women’s Health Center shortly after the birth of their daughter, Aspen.

“The new rooms are very nice and really modern,” Alicity says. “It was a much better environment with plenty of space for all the people who needed to come in and out. I give it a 10 out of 10.”

Now back home and busy with healthy, active newborns, both mothers say they are grateful for their experience at Stillwater Medical.

“Even though birth is one of the hardest things you can do, the hospital’s staff got me through it and made me feel comfortable,” Alicity says. “You don’t often find people who are that caring and giving. It’s what stands out to me most about my experience.”