Grinnell Regional welcomes first baby of 2025

GRINNELL — UnityPoint Health-Grinnell Regional Medical Center celebrated the arrival of the first baby of 2025 at 4:56 a.m. Sunday, January 5.

Hollie and Ryan Hegdahl of Marshalltown welcomed a son, Kilian Freyr (rhymes with bear). He weighed 7 pounds, 6.4 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

“We are looking forward to having him home and introducing him to his siblings, Bentley (age 9) and Hermione (age 18 months),” says Hollie. “We love the Lord of the Rings series and fell in love with the name Kili, so we made his full name Kilian.

“GRMC has been great. The care team always checks in to make sure I have what I need but also the whole family.”

In 2024, 246 babies were born at GRMC, an increase from 243 in 2023. UnityPoint Health-Grinnell is a recipient of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services maternal Center of Excellence grant, focused on establishing Iowa’s framework to sustainable access to high-quality, maternal health and obstetric services for rural communities and populations.

GRMC is the only hospital in Poweshiek, Jasper, Tama, Iowa and Marshall counties that offers labor and delivery care.