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Hospital breaks record as 1,000th baby is born

By BETH SLOVIC Chronicle Staff Writer

The number of babies born at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital has been steadily increasing along with the area's growing population, and on Wednesday the hospital set a new record.


 The 1,000th baby of 2005, Blake Lawrence, was born at 1:59 p.m. on Dec. 7, to Melissa and Travis Bender of Belgrade.

Last year, 996 babies greeted the world for the first time at Bozeman Deaconess, setting a record that lasted for only about 11 months.

In recent years, the number of births at the hospital has been inching upwards, and there have been no signs of the trend reversing, Dr. Steve Nickisch, an obstetrician with Big Sky Women's Specialists, said.

"It does reflect the influx of young people into the valley," Nickisch, who delivered Blake on Wednesday, said. "I anticipate the trend is going to continue."

The Benders moved to Belgrade from Great Falls in March, along with their two older children, ages 4 and 1.

The increase in the number of births at the hospital has been steady, from 757 in 1998, to 843 in 2000, to 1,000 this year, according to hospital spokeswoman Connie Martin.

By comparison, the city's population rose from 27,911 in 2000 to 32,414 in 2004, about a 16 percent increase, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

During the same time period, Belgrade's population grew from 5,844 to 7,046, about a 21 percent increase.

Travis Bender, who works in construction, said he knows several women who are pregnant now.

"I can't say if it's the economy or what," Bender added. "It's just good times had by all."

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