A New Year’s baby was the furthest thing from Maggie Schruth’s mind when she began having contractions 19 days before her due date. But little William Mitchell had plans of his own. Weighing in at seven pounds, six ounces, William wasted no time making his grand entrance. Maggie and her husband, Adam, arrived at Saint Elizabeth’s around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, January 2. Certified Nurse-Midwife Sharon Riester, along with a team of nurses, helped with the waterbirth delivery. At 10:58 p.m., the Schruth family celebrated William’s prized distinction – Saint Elizabeth’s First Baby of 2012.
Maggie, Adam, and big sister, Morgan, who is two and a half, live in Pepin, Wisconsin. Adam is employed at Northern Wisconsin Farm Implement and Maggie works at The Bank of Alma in Pepin. The Schruth family has a long history of accessing health services at Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Health System.
“I was so glad to be able to have a waterbirth in Wabasha,” said Maggie. “That was my original plan when I was pregnant with Morgan, but complications necessitated a transfer to Rochester. Sharon and the nurses were wonderful. They were caring and encouraging, and always by my side. Our waterbirth experience exceeded my expectations.”
The family received a New Year’s Baby gift package. William is the first of nearly 100 babies expected to be born at Saint Elizabeth’s in 2012.