First baby of 2015 born at birth center
<p class="p1"><strong>Nikie Olmsted</strong> holds her day-old son, Bridger Winston Olmsted, on Friday while midwife Michele Neal takes notes on the baby’s condition. Bridger was the first baby born in the Flathead Valley in 2015. (Brianna Loper/The Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Flathead Valley’s first baby of the new year was a 10 pound, 1 ounce boy born at Community Birth Center in Kalispell.
Bridger Winston Olmsted, the son of Billy and Nikie of Whitefish, made his way into the world at 12:39 a.m. Thursday, about 90 minutes after his mother arrived at the birthing center. He measured 21 inches long.
The baby’s due date was Christmas Day. It was the couple’s second child. Liam, who will turn 2 in February, also was born at Community Birth Center.
It was the atmosphere that appealed to the Olmsteds.
“It’s so peaceful and welcoming and warm,” Nikie Olmsted said.
Community Birth Center is a free-standing birth center created by midwives who formed the first midwife cooperative in Montana.
Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s first baby of the year was Lyma Aiyanna Oswald-Fladager, born at 5:54 a.m. on New Year’s Day. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 inches long.
Her parents are Meghann Fladager and Chase Oswald of Kalispell.
At North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, Deborah and John Bills of Kalispell welcomed twin boys early Friday morning.
Lance Bills was North Valley Hospital’s first baby of the new year, arriving at 1:01 a.m. and weighing 6 pounds, 10.7 ounces. He was 19 3/4 inches long. His brother Liam was born at 1:25 a.m.; he weighed 7 pounds, 15.9 ounces and was 21 inches long.
The twins join brothers Kaleb, 7, and Kiden, 3.