On Sept. 29, 1925, the first baby was born at Chester County Hospital, marking the beginning of a century-long tradition of delivering exceptional care to mothers, babies, and families in the Chester County community. Since that time, thousands of families have welcomed new generations at the hospital, and today the hospital’s Maternal Child Health Department delivers more than 3,000 babies each year.
Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital (CCH) recently marked a century of maternal care, celebrating its long-standing commitment to supporting families through a comprehensive range of services and honoring the dedicated staff who continue to provide exceptional care before, during, and after childbirth. Hospital-wide celebrations included gifting a special CCH onesie to the first 100 babies born in this new century of care.
“I am incredibly proud to celebrate this monumental milestone at Chester County Hospital — the 100th anniversary of delivering babies,” said Katie Luzi Costantini, Director of Maternal Child Services. “The mission of the Maternal Child Health department at CCH is to provide evidence-based, equitable, and high-quality care in a culture that fosters collaboration, compassion, and respect for patients, families, and each other. Our exceptional interdisciplinary team embodies this mission every day, and this milestone is a time to reflect on the outstanding and remarkable care provided over the past century while looking forward to a bright future of supporting patients and their families during some of life’s most pivotal moments.”
Over the past century, maternal care at CCH has evolved to meet the needs of the community. Most recently, the maternal health team launched an initiative to improve postpartum outcomes and reduce health disparities among Hispanic patients, after data from July 2020 to June 2021 revealed higher rates of complications, such as postpartum hemorrhage and infection, within this population. The team identified contributing factors, including language barriers, access to care, cultural differences, and potential biases.
The program’s impact was recognized by the 2023 Excellence in Health Care Awards from The Health Care Improvement Foundation.
In 2014, CCH opened The Mother Baby Pavilion, a maternity suite that features private postpartum rooms with a hospitality-focused approach, including amenities like overnight guest beds, European-style bathrooms, and in-room dining options to enhance the experience for families during their recovery and bonding time after childbirth.
Additional services include a robust prenatal education program, a 14-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), inpatient lactation support, and a dedicated team of physicians, nurses, and specialists committed to delivering patient- and family-centered care. These amenities have earned CCH the prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation in 2019, with redesignation in 2025.
As CCH continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary, the Maternal Child Health department, alongside hospital leaders, will also host employee-focused celebrations throughout November. In addition to gifting a commemorative CCH onesie for families with newborns, these celebrations recognize the commitment of the staff who deliver compassionate, patient- and family-centered care every day. Together, they honor CCH’s legacy and reaffirm its mission to provide high-quality care in a culture that is rooted in collaboration, compassion, and mutual respect.
Learn more at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital. Chester County Hospital is a 329-bed facility in West Chester, offering a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services, including advanced surgical, oncology, and maternal care. Established in 1892, the hospital is dedicated to serving Chester County and the surrounding areas with high-quality medical care and extensive community health programs.
