It’s a Girl! Antelope Valley Medical Center Delivers the First Baby of 2024

Baby Jesse Jenelle was born in the 4am hour on January 1^st

(LANCASTER, Calif., January 1, 2024) — Antelope Valley Medical Center is delighted to announce the arrival of the first baby of the year, ushering in a new chapter of hope and happiness for the entire community.

At 4:44 am on January 1, 2024, Antelope Valley Medical Center had the privilege of welcoming a beautiful baby girl into the world. Baby Jesse Jenelle weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 18.5 inches long. She was born to proud parents, Jonathan and Abigail Lopez.

As a symbol of community and new beginnings, the AVMC Auxiliary provided the baby and her parents with a variety of baby items, such as a new infant car seat, blankets, clothes, books, baby supplies, and stuffed animals. Founded in 1957, the Auxiliary is a group of volunteers dedicated to raising funds through the hospital gift shops, thrift shop, and other seasonal events to benefit hospital programs.

Welcoming nearly 4,000 babies a year, the hospital prides itself on patient safety and proven expertise to provide better health outcomes. AVMC’s Women and Infants Pavilion (WIP), offers a spacious maternity care facility, with a complete array of obstetrical and newborn services. It features 48 private Couplet Care rooms that are furnished with special beds and bassinets, so that mother and baby can stay in the same room until they go home. AVMC also provides the area’s only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to care for our region’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients. Combined with advanced technology, the Level IIIB NICU is covered by board certified Neonatologists who provide specialized in-house compassionate medical care 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

AVMC is a designated Baby-Friendly birth facility, where the lactation team ensures optimal level of care for infant feeding, and for mother infant bonding. The team empowers new mothers to feel confident about breastfeeding, which in turns provides numerous health benefits to their newborns.

“This is a wonderful way to kick off the new year, congratulations to the family on the arrival of baby Jesse Jenelle!” stated Antelope Valley Medical Center Chief Executive Officer, Edward Mirzabegian. “We are honored to be part of this joyous occasion, and privileged to welcome your newest family member. Having served the Antelope Valley community since 1955, we take pride in delivering tens of thousands of precious moments like these.”

Jonathan and Abigail Lopez hold their newest addition to their family born on New Year’s Day.

Women and Infants Pavilion staff join the Lopez family in welcoming the first baby of 2024.