NILES — The Birth Place at Lakeland Hospital, Niles welcomed southwest Michigan’s first baby of 2018 at 4:46 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.

Ciara Lamb and James Helton of Union, Michigan said they are the proud new parents of a daughter, Lillian Michelle Helton. Baby Helton weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 21 inches long.

In keeping with its annual tradition of celebrating the first baby of the year, the Lakeland Auxiliary provided the family with a gift basket full of baby items valued at $100.

The Lakeland Health system has delivered generations of southwest Michigan residents, with 1,630 babies born in the St. Joseph and Niles hospitals within the last fiscal year. Lakeland is served by a team of 23 obstetrics and gynecology providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives.

In May 2017, Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph became one of only two in the region to offer nitrous oxide for managing pain while in child labor. For more information about the Birth Place, visit lakelandhealth.org/birthplace

Lakeland Health is a non-profit, community-owned health system, which includes three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, a cancer center, rehabilitation centers, long-term care, hospice, home care services, and physician practices. Lakeland was ranked as a 15 Top U.S. Health System by Truven Health Analytics in 2017. The health system has more than 4,000 employees who provide clinical and support services at locations throughout southwest Michigan, and partners with more than 450 affiliated physicians and other providers.

For more information, visit lakelandhealth.org