Lafayette General Medical Center Announces A Special Delivery

Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) is happy to announce the arrival of 19 new beds in its now-expanded Women’s and Children’s Services Department. Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., CEO of LGMC, Judy Robichaux, director of the department, OB/GYN Jennifer Pugliese, M.D., Pediatrician Toni Leoni, M.D., and Neonatologist David Deiulio, M.D., cut the cord on their new baby at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday morning. The new area is 137,052 square inches in length and, with design loads of 80 lbs. per square foot, supports a weight of 1.2 million pounds.

This renovated portion of the hospital created the addition of over 11,000 square feet to the department, for a total area of 53,639 square feet dedicated completely to maternity and newborn services. This allowed for seven beds to be added in the Mother-Baby Suites, for a total of 31 beds; Six beds added to the Labor & Delivery area, for a total of 21 beds and three new exam rooms; Six beds added to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a total of 31 beds; and an entirely new Nursery. An additional elevator was added to the front lobby for quicker and easier access to the second-floor department. Use of the facility will begin as soon as the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals completes its onsite survey.

LGMC delivered 2,875 babies in fiscal year 2015, which ended September 30. That was an increase of 13.4 percent over the previous year and a 56% increase since 2012. The new space will likely increase the number of deliveries at LGMC. In fact, since Nov. 1, 2015, to January 31, 2016, LGMC has delivered more babies than any other facility in Acadiana.

This morning’s “Cut the Cord” ribbon-cutting ceremony, which snipped a telephone cord instead of a traditional ribbon, featured bubble-gum cigars, sparkling grape juice in champagne flutes and boy/girl cupcakes to replicate a newborn celebration.

Guests and visitors of the ceremony were given tours of the new Mother-Baby Suites, which present a home-like setting with large open rooms featuring sleeping couches, rocking chairs and personal refrigerators in every room. Tours of the Mother-Baby Suites for any expecting mother can be arranged by calling (337) 289-7210.