News

SARANAC LAKE –Adirondack Health welcomed the first baby of 2014 at 7:56 a.m. on Jan. 2.
Joseph was born to Cynthia and Jon Gorgas of Ray Brook, and joins a sister and brother at home.  Joseph weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20 and three-quarters inches long.
To mark the milestone, the Gorgas family was presented with a gift basket containing a child’s plate, bowl and cup set; piggy bank; two plush toys and a picture frame.
Although Joseph is the couple’s third child, he was the first to be born at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.  “This is our favorite spot,” said Jon.  His wife agreed, adding “it’s so much more relaxed.”
Many of the babies born at AMC are getting a healthy start on life thanks to a strong support system and the educational resources that have yielded the highest rate of breastfeeding in the state.
Breastfeeding is the recommended method of infant nutrition, and is considered the gold standard of feeding newborns, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
According to Gigi Peckham, one of two Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants at AMC, much of the credit is due to the moms.
“Adirondack Health has been among the top breastfeeding rates for 15 plus years,” said Ms. Peckham. “This is thanks to the dedicated mothers in our community, and the support they have from our local medical professionals and their caring staff.”
Through its participation in the state Department of Health’s Great Beginnings NY program, AMC has earned a breastfeeding rate of 89.1 percent, which is about 20 percent higher than the national average.
Some of the benefits of breastfeeding for infants include:
•    Decreased incidence of illness and severity of illness due to micro-antibodies found in early milk production.
•    Infants feel safe, secure, warm and cozy when skin to skin with their mothers. This results in lower incidence of infant stress.
•    Infants maintain proper body temperature, and stable blood glucose levels when skin to skin with mothers during breastfeeding.
There are benefits for mothers as well:
•    Mothers are at less risk of postpartum hemorrhage due to the hormonal reaction from nursing within the first half hour of the birth of their infant.
•    Mothers return to pre-birth health and weight more rapidly by breastfeeding.
•    Mothers are absent less often from work due to sick babies, and visit the pediatrician less frequently which saves time and money.

To learn more about the birthing and maternity services offered at Adirondack Health, click here.

Joseph J. Gorgas was the first baby to be born at Adirondack Medical Center in 2014.  Joseph is the son of Cynthia and Jon Gorgas of Ray Brook.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
JOE RICCIO, Communications Director
(518) 897-2341