The BirthPlace at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, welcomed southwest Michigan’s first baby of 2016 at 12:36 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 1.

Yan Qiu Yu of Benton Harbor is the new mother of a daughter, Vanni Li. Baby Yu weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.

In keeping with their 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 1,823 babies born in the St. Joseph and Niles hospitals within the last fiscal year. Lakeland is served by a team of 26 obstetrics and gynecology providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives. For more information about the BirthPlace at Lakeland Health, visit www.lakelandhealth.org