Boone Baby Legacy
On Christmas Eve 1921, a touring car braved sharp winds, below-freezing temperatures, and a steep gravel road, slick with snow, to carry a married couple to the newly opened Boone County Hospital, where their family doctor awaited them. Two weeks after its grand opening, the hospital was still under construction; one end of the delivery room was walled o with a tarp. But this didn’t deter the new parents or the nurses who helped their doctor deliver their first-born son – and the first Boone Baby.
103 years and over 100,000 babies later, Boone Health retains its reputation as “the baby hospital.” While the origin of the expression remains a mystery, Boone Babies have been a tradition of compassionate care for growing families for over a century.
The history of the Boone Baby reflects the history of childbirth in America. In 1900, only 5% of births in the United States occurred in hospitals. By December 1921, that number had jumped to over 30% as public perception of hospitals evolved with advancements in medical knowledge, including infection prevention, vaccines, insulin, and vitamins. In the late 1930s, antibiotics entered widespread use in hospitals. As hospital birth became safer for mothers and babies, the option grew more appealing.
At the end of World War II in 1945, the nation experienced a “baby boom” that would last for over a decade – and these new mothers opted for hospital births. In 1939, 50% of U.S. births occurred in a hospital setting. By 1950, that number had jumped to 88%. Hospitals struggled with a shortage of beds, especially for birthing mothers. In 1947, in response to increasing concerns from community members, doctors, nurses, and local officials, the county held a special election to vote on a bond issue to expand Boone County Hospital’s facilities with a wing that would include a dedicated maternity ward. When the measure failed to pass, community fundraising efforts paid for the construction of a new hospital wing, which opened in 1954.
Boone’s new 35-bed maternity ward quickly filled, as the hospital saw a record-breaking 790 births in 1955. A photo feature in the February 10, 1956, Missourian showed Boone nurses tending to babies in bumper-to-bumper bassinets and a “closet-like” incubator room. On Dec. 1, 1959, expectant mothers were moved to a larger unit with a delivery room in the hospital’s new wing – and just in time. By 1960, the percentage of hospital births rose to 97%.
While space was sometimes limited, Boone County Hospital always had capacity to provide exceptional care to mothers and babies and to offer something extra. The Pink Ladies Auxiliary, the hospital’s volunteer and fundraising group, offered books and took photographs of newborn babies for proud parents. In the early 1960s, a “Stork Club” menu offered new mothers a special meal after giving birth. Menu options included filet mignon, lamb chops, baked potatoes, and strawberry shortcake.
Childbirth was transformed in the mid-20th century by medical advances but also by social shifts. Pregnancy and childbirth were once considered taboo discussion topics, but new suburban communities brought together young women who shared their experiences. Expectant mothers were now encouraged to receive prenatal care and learn about childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care before their babies arrived. Organizations like La Leche League and Lamaze International offered resources to help mothers feel more con dent with breastfeeding and childbirth, and chapters quickly grew throughout the U.S. In the 1960s, Boone County Hospital partnered with the Boone County Association for Mental Health to offer childbirth education sessions that concluded with a tour of the maternity ward. Today, the hospital offers Family Life Education courses to support new and growing families.
Feminist movements had also prompted dialogues about women’s healthcare, which included making childbirth feel less “medicalized.” While hospitals provided a safer environment for mother and baby, the experience could be difficult or upsetting. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, a growing number of female nurse leaders and obstetricians advocated for family-centered maternal and baby care.
Boone County Hospital reflected these changing attitudes. In 1972, fathers were now welcome in the delivery room if they took a childbirth class to prepare. In March 1974, local writer Kerry Kohler shared how it felt to witness his child’s birth: “There’s no way for [people] to prepare you for the incredible thrill of being there and seeing your child born and helping your wife through an admittedly painful time.”
In 1974, the hospital allowed newborns to sleep in their mothers’ postpartum room for half the day. Fathers were welcome to visit and care for the baby. The first parents to participate in the program already had two Boone babies, but noted this experience felt different. The mother added, “This is much better for mother, father, and child. It brings the family together, right from the start.”
Birthing rooms provided a more comfortable and restful environment. In 1981, Boone Hospital Center added four birthing suites that Labor & Delivery nurse Sue Rodgers said “[blended] a homelike atmosphere with the clinical capabilities and safety of the hospital.” The suite would later become the standard, with private birthing and postpartum rooms featuring artwork, adjustable lighting, and sofas for fathers, grandparents, and siblings. In 1996, Boone Hospital Center opened a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, to meet the growing need in mid-Missouri for care for preterm, low-weight and critically ill babies. The program also helps parents learn how to care for their infant’s special needs. In its first 20 years, our NICU has cared for over 6,000 babies –– some of whom now have their own Boone Babies.
Retired neonatologist Timothy O’Connor, MD, who led the NICU project, said in 2016, that when it comes to improving childbirth, compassionate care for babies and families really makes the difference: “Numerous additions to ventilator technology have improved outcomes, but still, it’s basic excellent nursing and patient care and attention to detail that creates good outcomes.”
Excellent family care is why people from mid-Missouri call themselves or their children – or grandchildren – Boone Babies. The emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care isn’t unique to our maternal child health services department; they’re members of a family whose mission is to improve the health of mid-Missouri. Boone Health’s love for our patients and community is reflected in their pride at choosing us to care for their family.
By Jessica Park