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he United States has the highest death rate for pregnant women and new mothers of any industrial nation and a Delaware health system helped prove a way to bring it down.

BABY Exclusive look inside ChristianaCare's new state-of-the-art center for women, children By Ashley Johnson NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) -- Action News got an exclusive look inside the new Center for Women's and Children's Health at ChristianaCare Hospital in Newark, Delaware. "It's kind of like you're in a resort so to say. Everything is so fancy and new," said mom, Briana Thompkins. This state-of-the-art facility opened in the midst of the pandemic and has been several years in the making. What makes it so special is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) couplet model, where moms and newborns can stay in the same room. In most hospitals, they're separated. Twins Gianna and Roni were the first in the new NICU. "It's nice I can even be here, spend time with them and obviously they're still so little, but it's great I can even be a presence in the room," said the new mom of twins, Janet Roth. Doctors say that initial bonding time for mom and baby is crucial. ChristianaCare is busy when it comes to babies. Doctors say they deliver the most babies out of any hospital in the tri-state. About 6,000 babies are born each year here. "What's really important is how we care for you before you come here, while you're here and then after you go home," CEO Janice Nevin said. "We've already started to see the smiles on our patients. We've only been open for two weeks and we've already heard the positive reviews from our families," Dr. Matthew Hoffman said.

Matthew K. Hoffman, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at ChristianaCare in Newark, Del., said that early preterm birth is driven by...

There was something different about this birth for Katie and Brian Rubin. Yes, their second child, Emma, was born on May 5 amid a pandemic. But the other difference the Rubins noticed was ChristianaCare's new Center for Women's and Children's Health. Their first daughter, Hannah, was born two years ago in the hospital's old building. "Great experience last time as well," said Katie Rubin, as she kept an eye on her newborn. "The main thing this time, the rooms are a little bigger. It's a little bit easier to have Brian here. "It's nicer to have him here to help with everything." That family convenience is what ChristianaCare had in mind when it started the project, which has been nearly three years in the making. It had its soft opening during the last week of April – and on schedule. The labor rooms are also 50% larger and the postpartum rooms have more space for visitors, including a couch that with a touch of a button either turns into a bed or a table pops out of it. "We built this with the idea of serving the community," said Dr. Matthew Hoffman, the Marie E. Pinizzotto, M.D., Endowed Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at ChristianaCare. "Our rates aren't changing in any particular way. It's really to better help serve the community and part of the commitment to the community." ChristianaCare is one of the busiest birthing hospitals in the region. About 6,000 babies are born there every year. The eight-story building is more than a medical facility. It also serves as a place where families can come together in a hopefully less stressful environment, hospital officials said. Helping provide a more relaxed theme are images of Delaware's estuary on the facility's walls. There also is a healing garden, with outdoor seating and landscaping designed for all seasons. This second-floor garden has room for strollers, children to play and plenty of family walking space. The labor rooms are also 50% larger and the postpartum rooms have more space for visitors, including a couch that with a touch of a button either turns into a bed or a table pops out of it. "We built this with the idea of serving the community," said Dr. Matthew Hoffman, the Marie E. Pinizzotto, M.D., Endowed Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at ChristianaCare. "Our rates aren't changing in any particular way. It's really to better help serve the community and part of the commitment to the community."