Oh, baby, 2023 was full of adorable little ones born at RiverView Health!
In all shapes and sizes, and with names ranging from classics – like Ruth and Theodore – to the unique – like Rippen River – these babies made their way into the world at all hours of the day and night.
Boys outnumbered girls by one in 2023, with 44 boys born to 43 girls.
Names stretched from Alijah to Turner on the boys’ side and Aaliyah to Zhya for the girls. Charlie David made the list for the boys and Charli Mae for the girls.
Benjamin, Hudson, and Jesse tied for the top male name. Sometimes spelling makes a difference; in this case, two boys with the same name were born close together, one spelled Emmitt and the other Emmett. Baby boys Alijah and Elijah also made the list.
There were no ties on the girls’ side, with Sutton standing alone at the top of the list. Several names generally considered masculine made for middle names for several baby girls, including James and Matthew. There were several baby girls with the same middle name but spelled differently, including Jean/Gene, Lyn/Lynn, and Mae/May.
Team Baby
RiverView’s outstanding Obstetrics (OB) Team helped these little ones with their grand entrances. Dr. Erik Kanten and Dr. Lauren Rose are family medicine physicians and OB providers. Dr. Kanten has been delivering babies in Crookston for well over 30 years. Often, he has delivered the newborn and the newborn’s parents. Dr. Rose began her practice at RiverView in 2021 and is known for her compassionate care and expertise.
Crookston native Dr. Kari Wessman rounds out the team of physicians. Dr. Wessman specializes in gynecology and obstetrics. Over the years, she has delivered many, many sets of multiples and led women through high-risk pregnancies. The trio of providers sees patients for office visits in RiverView Clinics in Crookston, Fertile, Red Lake Falls, and East Grand Forks.
RiverView’s labor and delivery nurses are a huge part of every pregnancy journey and delivery. These nurses are caring and knowledgeable and with the patient every step of the way. A private nurse stays with the delivering patient throughout labor and delivery, focusing only on mom and baby.
A certified lactation counselor and three certified lactation specialists are available for breastfeeding education and assistance.
First Class Care, Facility
RiverView Hospital, built in 2020, includes an OB Unit with three labor and delivery rooms (with a fourth if needed). Each room has a private bathroom, a large floor plan to allow caregivers space to provide exceptional patient care, and comfortable accommodations for family and friends wanting to stay close. The family area has sleeping room to support family bonding and 24-hour rooming-in with the baby.
The Unit includes enhanced technology, allowing mom and baby to be monitored in-room or remotely from the nurses’ station or the OB provider’s office. A nursery/procedure room is just off the nurses’ station for little ones needing closer monitoring.
Security is a high priority, with an enhanced infant security system in place.
RiverView Health is a great place to bring new life into the world. If you would like more information on OB services at RiverView, call 281.9200. For a peek at some of the babies born in Crookston, check out the website at riverviewhealth.org and look under the Little Stars heading.
Watch for news of the first baby of 2024 in the coming weeks!
Top Baby Names in 2023, according to the Social Security Administration
Boy Girl
1. Liam Olivia
2. Noah Emma
3. Oliver Charlotte
4. James Amelia
5. Elijah Sophia
6. William Isabella
7. Henry Ava
8. Lucas Mia
9. Benjamin Evelyn
10. Theodore Luna
