St. Peter’s Hospital Delivers Record Number of Babies in July

St. Peter’s Hospital, part of St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP), saw the delivery of 335 babies during the month of July 2026 – more than any other month since the hospital’s founding in 1869. St. Peter’s typically averages around 260 births per month.

“We are thrilled to celebrate a record-breaking month for Maternity & Newborn Services at St. Peter’s Hospital,” said Tushar Somani, president of Hospital Operations, SPHP. “This milestone speaks to the trust families place in our care team and to the tireless dedication of our midwives, physicians, nurses, doulas, and entire hospital staff who work around the clock to bring new life into the world safely. Every birth is a privilege to be a part of, and to see this many families begin their journey with us fills all of us with pride and gratitude.”

Of the 335 babies born, 35 were also cared for by the team in St. Peter’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Jessica Mallison of Albany County is one of the women who gave birth during the baby boom in July. Her daughter, Alessia, came into the world at just 29 weeks old and is currently being cared for in the NICU. Of the experience, Jessica said: “From the moment I arrived at St. Peter’s, the care I received in Labor and Delivery and the care our daughter continues to receive in the NICU, have been exceptional. There are no words to express my thankfulness and appreciation for the medical staff, especially during a record number of births during the month of July.”

The record-breaking month of deliveries isn’t the first birthing milestone at St. Peter’s Hospital in the past year. In December 2025, St. Peter’s celebrated more than 23 new babies and their moms, all of whom worked in the hospital’s maternity unit.

For Benjamin Pinzer, director of Maternity and Newborn Services for St. Peter’s Health Partners (which includes both St. Peter’s Hospital and Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital), the experience has been extraordinary on several levels.

“Being part of a family’s very first moments together is the greatest honor in this profession, and this month our team got to share that honor more than ever before,” said Pinzer. “Every single birth we celebrate here is unique and precious, but there’s something truly special about watching our unit fill with so much new life all at once. I’m endlessly proud of our team – from Labor & Delivery to Postpartum, NICU and Lactation. They pull together and work tirelessly to ensure every patient receives personalized, compassionate care. They never waver no matter how busy we get. It is because of that dedication to excellence that St. Peter’s remains a leading maternity provider in the Capital Region.”

St. Peter’s Hospital is routinely recognized for its high-quality maternity care, most recently being named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2026. 

Only 460 winners nationwide were recognized on the list; St. Peter’s Hospital was the only center recognized in the Albany/Schenectady/Troy area.

Maternity & Newborn Services at St. Peter’s Hospital
St. Peter’s Hospital has earned national designations that demonstrate its commitment to high-quality care. It has received Magnet® Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing; Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care by BlueShield of Northeastern New York; and UNICEF’s Baby-Friendly designation for its focus on bonding and breastfeeding.

St. Peter’s Hospital offers patient-centered care that allows expectant parents to birth their baby in a warm and home-like atmosphere with the comfort of knowing both parent and baby will be cared for by board-certified obstetricians or midwives, alongside expert nurses and doulas. St. Peter’s board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialists are trained to deal with high-risk pregnancies, as well.

St. Peter’s Hospital also has a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for babies born premature or critically ill, staffed 24/7 by neonatologists, neonatal nurses, and respiratory therapists.

 To learn more about maternity care at St. Peter’s Health Partners, visit https://www.sphp.com/services/maternity.