Skip to main content

NYP/Hudson Valley Hospital Welcomes Its First Baby of the New Year

Jan 4, 2016

woman holding her baby

Heather Cortes and Terrell Finklea, of Beacon, NY, hold their firstborn, Briella Emmalie Finklea.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital’s first baby of the New Year is a girl.

Briella Emmalie Finklea arrived on Saturday, January 2, at 7:11 a.m., weighing 8 pounds and 15 ounces, and measuring 20 ½ inches.

Proud parents are Heather Cortes, a college student studying visual arts, and Terrell Finklea, a brokerage firm assistant, of Beacon, NY. Briella is their first child.

The baby was delivered by Dr. Jonelle Bingham-Alexander of NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group/Hudson Valley.

"I was treated very well here," said Ms. Cortes. "I had a very tough delivery. I had amazing care and everyone here was wonderful."

Ms. Cortes noted she is the youngest of eight children and Briella is the 26th grandchild of her mother, Deborah, who joined her in the delivery room. Mr. Finklea said his new baby daughter joins one cousin, his brother’s baby boy born four months ago.

NYP/Hudson Valley Hospital is the only hospital in the region to be designated a "Baby Friendly" Hospital by Baby Friendly USA and the World Health Organization for its excellence in maternity care for breastfeeding support.

With whirlpool tubs in every labor and delivery suite, the hospital’s maternity center offers not only comfort and personalized care, but also the peace of mind of a level II Neo-Natal Care Unit for infants with medical issues or those who are born prematurely.

NYP/Hudson Valley Hospital offers deliveries by obstetricians and midwives, and welcomes doulas.

New mothers labor, deliver, and recover in private rooms that feel more like a hotel than a hospital. The birthing approach is centered on the whole family: new parents can spend the night, and grandparents and siblings can be involved through special courses. From the first months of pregnancy through the weeks following birth, the hospital provides a wealth of resources, including birthing and lactation classes as well as support groups. For more information about breast-feeding education and/or to schedule a tour of the Maternity Center, call 914-734-3257. The hospital delivers an average of 900 babies a year.