LEWISTON, ID – St. Joseph Regional Medical Center capped off 2025 and welcomed the New Year with an outpouring of joy, as six babies were born at the hospital’s Family Beginnings department in a 12-hour span.
On December 31, 2025, three babies were delivered at 6:15 p.m., 10:40 p.m., and 11:44 p.m., closing
out the year with new life. Shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026, St. Joe’s marked the first birth of the New Year at 1:38 a.m.
Baby boy Elias Davis entered the world weighing 5 pounds, 13.5 ounces, born to Alexis Barnette Ludwig and Jason Davis of Washington State. Grandparents include Mary Davis, Tami Hansen, Melissa Gray, Tonnie Ludwig, and Marvin Ludwig. Two additional babies followed later in the morning at 3:06 a.m. and 5:32 a.m., bringing the total early-morning arrivals to three and the overall count to six as the New Year began.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is proud to be an award-winning maternity hospital, recently named a 2026 Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, the highest designation in the publication’s annual national study of labor and delivery services. This accolade reflects the hospital’s superior quality measures, including minimizing avoidable cesarean births and supporting exclusive breast milk feeding.
“We are honored to be part of these families’ most treasured moments and to help them welcome the
first babies of the New Year,” said Rori Santana, MSN, RNC, Director of Women’s and Children’s
Services. “Our Family Beginnings team combines compassionate care with clinical excellence, and this recognition as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care underscores the dedication and skilled support our staff provide to every mom and baby.”
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center extends a warm welcome to all six newborns and sincere
appreciation to their parents for choosing St. Joe’s. The hospital also gives special recognition to its
Family Beginnings staff and providers whose expertise and commitment ensured safe, supportive
deliveries.
