New Year's babies born at Jefferson City hospitals

Baby Owen Alexander Kempker was the first baby to be born in 2021 at St. Mary's Hospital. His parents are Calli and Landre Kempker of Westphalia. Hospital officials said the family was doing fine.
Baby Owen Alexander Kempker was the first baby to be born in 2021 at St. Mary's Hospital. His parents are Calli and Landre Kempker of Westphalia. Hospital officials said the family was doing fine.

Both of Jefferson City's hospitals had babies born on New Year's Day.

Capital Region Medical Center's first baby of the new year was born at 8:19 a.m. to Rachel and Jeremy Strauch, of Fulton. The parents named their new baby boy Maverick. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

"Having a baby during the pandemic certainly looks and feels a bit different with the visitor restrictions, but it's no less exciting and heartwarming to welcome new life into the world," Capital Region Spokesperson Lindsay Huhman said.

The first baby born at St. Mary's Hospital in 2021 was Owen Alexander Kempker. He came into the world at 6:35 p.m. to Calli and Landre Kempker, of Westphalia. Owen weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was delivered by Dr. Jodi Berendzen.

"The main difference with births during the pandemic is that only one support person is allowed for the duration of the stay," St. Mary's Spokesperson Jessica Royston said. "Prior to the pandemic, the mother was able to have additional visitors to the hospital. St. Mary's has extensive safety precautions and infection control measures in place at all of our facilities to limit the risk of exposure and keep everyone safe."