16 Missouri Maternity Nurses Reunite After Experiencing Pregnancy Together

Last year, the maternity ward at Saint Luke's East was buzzing with more than just the usual anticipation of new life.

In an extraordinary event, 16 maternity ward nurses from Saint Luke's East Hospital experienced pregnancy and childbirth together within the same year. This unique occurrence has drawn national attention and recently culminated in a heartwarming reunion where the new mothers and their babies met.

15 nurses initially found themselves pregnant at the same time. The 16th nurse joined the baby boom later, leading to a total of 16 babies—10 boys and six girls.

The nurses recently gathered for a reunion, akin to a first birthday celebration for each new mom. "It means a lot to be going through it with your coworkers and friends," said Ellie Kongs, one of the new mothers and a nurse at the hospital. 

"One of the nurses that is here with her baby, she was my personal labor and delivery nurse for this baby right here," Nurse and new mother Melissa Burgess said.

"I'm a first-time mom it's just amazing to have friends who can help me," Nurse and new mother Stephanie Lynch said.

Connections Among Healthcare Workers

The unique experience of sharing pregnancy and childbirth stories has not only strengthened their bond but also enhanced their empathy toward their patients. "As a nurse, we are naturally empathetic, but going through the experience myself allowed me to relate more to my patients," shared Shamille Mack, another nurse, and new mother.

This remarkable story underscores the deep connections formed among healthcare workers and the extraordinary circumstances that can arise in such close-knit communities.

The story of the maternity ward's baby boom gained national attention on Good Morning America and the news of the reunion was originally reported by KMBC.

When the news of their pregnancy first broke, Saint Luke's Health Hospital posted their excitement on facebook, expressing, "We can't wait to spoil these moms and babies just like we do with every special delivery at Saint Luke's." The post received hundreds of shares, likes, and comments from community members.

The nurses also provided comments to GMA, with nurse Caitlin Hall saying, "It was awesome because I thought I was the only one that was trying to get pregnant... I can't imagine delivering without knowing all these people."