The New Year began with joy and celebration at Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital, where Utah’s first baby of 2026 was born. 

At 12:09 am on January 1, Valley Zohner made her grand entrance into the world. Her delighted parents, Kenedi and Zach, are thrilled to welcome their precious daughter to their family.

The Zohners live in Cedar City but chose to deliver at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital because their OBGYN works there. They had been anticipating the baby's arrival, and wanted to be prepared, so they had been staying Christmas week with family in St. George.

The plan was to arrive on New Year’s Eve to start her inducement, only to be surprised to find that she was already mid-labor when she arrived for her appointment. Kenedi said she  just was not feeling the contractions. With no inducement needed, the baby was near her arrival.

"This delivery was very easy and went very well. Baby came very fast and easy compared to my last baby,” said Kenedi Zohner. “All of the nurses have been nice, and lovely. They are great at their jobs.”

Valley weighed 6 pounds,1 ounce, and measured  20.5 inches long.

In 2025, there were 2,753 babies born at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital.

The new parents received a prize basket from Intermountain Health to celebrate the New Year's birth which included generous donations from Utah-based baby product vendors: Minky Couture; Loulou and Company; and Over the Moon.

###

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital caregivers delivered the first baby at the new facility on Sunday, Aug. 4, and he was quickly followed by 13 more babies over the next two days. 

Betsy De Leon, manager of women’s services for the hospital, said parents Joseph and Ashley Giron welcomed Joseph Giron on Sunday. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 ¾ inches long.  

For the hospital to have that many babies in two days is a little unusual, De Leon said. In the former hospital, they averaged 4-5 babies a day for about 1,600 deliveries in a year. 

The increase is something De Leon expects to continue thanks to the hospital’s new location. “It’s so convenient right off Highway 58 and Interstate 70.” 

About 190 families who are scheduled to have their babies at Lutheran or who are expecting and wanted a tour attended two events at the hospital before the opening Aug. 3. De Leon said families who are interested in scheduling future tours can do so online.  

The new hospital offers 11 labor and delivery rooms, 19 mom and baby rooms for postpartum and two operating rooms. It also has a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit with 12 private rooms where caregivers can take care of babies born at 28 weeks or later.  

“We can provide care for women wanting minimal interventions up to offering anesthesia support for epidurals 24/7,” De Leon said. Each of the labor and delivery rooms has a bathtub as well, and the team offers lactation support daily.  

To learn more about the department, classes or register for a tour, please visit: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/intermountain-health-lutheran-hospital/pregnancy-and-baby. 

                                                                                                                                                  ###