Orange Park hospital had six births as storm passed

Kiami, Alina, Yuliana, Charlotte, My’kah and Cameron were Dorian babies.

They were born at Orange Park Medical Center on Tuesday and Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian brushed Northeast Florida. The storm, which devastated the Bahamas, brought minor damage here as well as low barometric pressure, which can lead to births.

"Low barometric pressure … can sometimes induce the rupture of the fetal membranes and can cause a women to go into labor," said spokeswoman Carrie Turansky.

As a result, obstetrics staff know to get ready.

"Anytime a hurricane comes through the area they make sure their team is ready for any influx of patients," she said.

The Orange Park hospital's Dorian babies received special hurricane-themed onesies made for such an occasion — with phrases printed on them such as "Category 5 Cutie" and "Little Hurricane" — to add a bit of levity to a stressful situation. The one-piece outfits were made "with pure love" by Transition Nursery Nurse Lauren Hodges, Turansky said. Hodges also makes bassinet name cards for the babies.

The low barometric pressure phenomenon did not translate to a substantial birth increase at all area hospitals. Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, which is a larger facility than Orange Park and has the same owner, posted four births Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Jill Bodden, Women's Services administrative director.

"There is, however, a strong belief among labor and delivery staff that 'when the barometric pressure drops so do babies' — meaning that a falling barometric pressure results in an increase of spontaneous rupture of membranes and increased rates of spontaneous labor. Over the last few days, we saw a fairly normal number of deliveries."

Birth numbers are other area hospitals were not immediately available Friday.

Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109