'It's a baby, Charlie Brown!': Newborns at AHN West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh Dressed Up as 'Peanuts' Characters to Celebrate the Comic's 75th Anniversary

Created by renowned cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, "Peanuts" first appeared in just seven U.S. newspapers in October 1950, but soon became a household name, evolving into one of the most popular and influential comic strips in history. TV specials, such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," cemented its popularity. The comic strip ended its original run in 2000 after 50 years, and has been in syndication ever since.

For the anniversary celebration, nine newborns — all dressed as well-known Peanuts' characters — were placed in a medical-grade bassinet constructed by AHN and designed to resemble Snoopy's infamous red doghouse.

"This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate all the magic and possibility of childhood, and a special reminder to the entire AHN labor and delivery team of what a privilege it is to help bring these beautiful little 'peanuts' into the world," said Marcia Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, OB/GYN and Chair of AHN Women's Institute.

Schulz drew from his own life experiences and observations to develop the personalities of his Peanuts characters. His gift for imbuing the characters with universally relatable traits drove the strip's popularity, and as a result, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Schroeder, Franklin, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang have been celebrating holidays, exploring the depths of human emotion, fostering resilience, and creating memories around the world for generations.

"Perhaps these babies will grow to be empathetic like Charlie Brown, independent like Lucy or even musically inclined like Schroeder," said Dr. Klein-Patel. "But no matter who these children will become, we are honored that they got their start at AHN West Penn Hospital."

AHN WEST PENN HOSPITAL:
In July, AHN West Penn announced it had been ranked among the nation's top 50 hospitals for obstetrics and gynecology by U.S. News and World Report for the fourth consecutive year. The hospital is one of Pennsylvania's busiest labor & delivery centers, bringing 4,000 babies into the world each year. AHN West Penn also features a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that offers high-level care to critically ill babies.

The hospital is also home to the AHN Women's Behavioral Health and the Alexis Joy D'Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health, which supports mothers and their emotional wellness during pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Opened in late 2018, the Center has set an international standard for wraparound care for perinatal mood disorders, specifically postpartum anxiety and depression, and offers one of the only intensive outpatient therapy programs in the United States. 

CHARACTERS, BABY NAMES & INFORMATION

About Allegheny Health Network: 

Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 23,000 people, has more than 2,500 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

SOURCE Allegheny Health Network