If you’ve noticed an unusual glow in the Salem Hospital emergency department lately, it’s not just the northern lights — it's the growing number of baby bumps! What started as a trickle at the beginning of 2024 has blossomed into a full-blown baby boom, with around 25 staff pregnancies and counting. It appears the stork has been pulling double shifts!

“It slowly just started happening, and then everyone was just pregnant!” said Hannah Wildhaber, RN, ED clinical nurse, who is expecting her own little one in January.

A growing trend

The first few announcements in early 2024 sparked excitement, but the surprises didn’t stop there. Throughout the year, more and more team members started sharing their good news, turning the ED into a baby boom epicenter.

“When will it end? We don’t know!” said Wildhaber. “We just know we’re going to have to figure out more pump rooms — and hire some travelers or something to cover all of our leave,” she laughed.

Emily Dunmire, RN, ED clinical nurse, chimed in with her due date in March, and added with a grin, “We keep finding out more [babies] are on the way!”

’Don’t drink the water!’

With so many pregnancies, it’s easy to imagine some ED staffers eyeing the water cooler suspiciously. Dunmire’s tongue-in-cheek advice? “Don’t drink the water.”

Whether it's something in the H₂O or just the stars aligning, this baby boom has brought plenty of joy and a sense of camaraderie to the department. Amidst the bustling ED environment, expectant parents are swapping tips, sharing excitement and offering support to one another during this special time.

A community celebration

Congratulations to all our new or soon-to-be parents! Whether you're sipping water with caution or stocking up on diapers, we can’t wait to meet our newest members. Here’s to a happy, healthy future for our growing Salem Health family!