LeConte Medical Center Welcomes Its First Baby of 2021

As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, the labor and delivery team at LeConte Medical Center’s Dolly Parton Birthing Unit was busy preparing for new arrivals. Soon after people in East Tennessee rang in the New Year, the hospital welcomed its first baby to be delivered in 2021.

Seymour residents Megan McCarter and Michael Goins welcomed baby girl Kaezlee Jade Goins at 2:23 a.m. on Jan. 1. The two parents were overjoyed to welcome their new precious bundle, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

McCarter knew her labor would be induced, but she didn’t know when. On Dec. 30 at her 39-week check-up, her doctor asked, “How about tomorrow?” Head spinning and eager with anticipation, McCarter went home that night to pack, and returned to LeConte Medical Center at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.

McCarter is the mother of two boys, Oakley, age 6 and Jett, age 3. “I don’t know if you can ever be fully ready,” she says with a smile. “Every birth and every pregnancy is different. I was also induced with my previous two labors, but those times, I had an epidural. This time I did it all natural, without pain medication.”

She recalls, “The pain is excruciating, and just when you think you can’t handle it, the baby comes and the pain immediately stops. As soon as she was here, I was focused on her and not on myself. “We felt pretty special,” McCarter says about delivering LeConte’s first baby of 2021. “I didn’t know we were the first to deliver that day until I was told later. We are so thankful and blessed.”

McCarter shares that her son Jett was born close to Christmas, and her son Oakley close to Halloween. “I have holiday babies!” she laughs. “The older one is adjusting well to his new baby sister, and has become her protector. The 3-year-old, however, has just realized he’s no longer the baby of the family.”

Teamwork at its Finest

Her physician was James Koerten, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist at LeConte Medical Center. “Dr. Koerten has delivered all my babies. I would give him 10 out of 10 stars — and even more if I could!” She continues, “My nursing team was excellent. Labor and delivery nurses, they are a different breed. It takes a very special kind of nurse to do this work.” She muses, “It’s like for a moment, you have nobody in the room, and suddenly, a minute later, you have 12 people all around you. It’s the best example of teamwork!” McCarter is thankful to her care team for being there for not one, but all three of her very special births. “I would absolutely recommend LeConte Medical Center to anyone, 10 out of 10!”

LeConte Medical Center is located at 742 Middle Creek Road in Sevierville. Located on the second floor of the medical center, the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit is a modern, comfortable, family-oriented facility, providing both personal attention and medical technology for a memorable and pleasant birthing experience.