BY JOE WESSELS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
An unusually high number of parents received holiday bundles Christmas Day at University Hospital's Maternity Unit.
By 9 p.m., seven babies had been born and three women were still in labor, turning a usually calm holiday into a trying one for doctors and nurses.
"Holidays tend to be a bit slower," said Dr. Arthur Ollendorff, a University Hospital obstetrician - gynecologist. "It's definitely busier than our typical holiday."
Last Christmas, University Hospital recorded three births. Dr. Ollendorff said doctors generally do not induce labor on holidays, so most Christmas births result from natural labor. On an average day, about eight babies are born, some of them medically induced, he said.
Dr. Ollendorff said there was a strong possibility of at least one more birth before Christmas had passed.
While the maternity unit is always staffed, most staff members would be home with their families, unless a mother needed their services, the doctor said.
Scott and Emily Blackwelder of Madeira were among the many parents participating in the holiday rush. They recounted a harrowing day of running to the hospital about 6 a.m., when Mrs. Blackwelder was told she could go back home. They returned to open presents with their 20-month-old daughter Hailey, then went to a relative's home to drop off Hailey and food for Christmas dinner, then finally returned to the hospital.
McKenna Blackwelder was born at 1:12 p.m. -- just 37 minutes after the proud, and busy, parents arrived at the hospital. She was two days earlier than expected. "We've been calling (the family) with updates all day," Mrs. Blackwelder said.
"It's really special," Mr. Blackwelder said. "It's Christmas and it makes it even more special. Not only was our daughter born, but it is also our Savior's birth."
Other area hospitals reported a relatively calm holiday, baby-wise, with a few exceptions. Bethesda Oak Hospital came in second in Christmas births, with a total of six.
Most other area hospitals had no more than two births on Friday.
