For the first time in the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg’s 54-year history, families will be able to give birth to babies at the hospital once a new Special Care Facility comes on line by July 1, 2017, according to president and CEO Brian Nester.

At a Sept. 24 ceremonial groundbreaking along the Westgate Drive side of the campus, Nester, hospital administrators and public officials lauded the $93.6 million project which will include obstetric, newborn and inpatient rehabilitation services.

“This project will extend our commitment to growing strong families closer to home for people in and around Northampton County,” Nester said.

Erdman Healthcare Real Estate Solutions will construct the facility providing 225 construction jobs. The Pidcock Company is project engineer. Hospital officials project 185 additional patient care jobs will be created at the new Specialty Care Facility.

Funding includes a $600,000 pledge from the LVH-Muhlenberg Summer Festival and a $300,000 pledge from the Auxiliary of LVH-Muhlenberg.

What’s new?

20 private patient rooms in a mother-baby unit

A 10-private-room NICU

Eight labor, delivery and recovery rooms

A nursery

Two operating rooms

Five obstetrics triage beds

Three-bay post-anesthesia unit

Four-bed antepartum unit

A 28-bed inpatient care center

Therapy gym

Specialized rehab equipment

Lobby space with gift shop, cafe’, children’s play area and private lactation rooms.