'LULLABY' HERALDS HOSPITAL ARRIVALS.

Byline: - Sabrina Decker

With each new birth at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, the hospital will herald the news, if the parents wish, with a verse of Brahms' Lullaby over the loudspeaker.

The new program greeted eight newborns Wednesday, its first day in place, welcoming each with the soothing refrain played by just about any plush animal wind-up toy in a baby's room.

``It reminds me of that movie ``It's a Wonderful Life,'' where you hear the bell ring,'' said Pam Gurin, who along with her husband, Greg, had the song played for their new baby girl, Alyssa Renae. ``It's kind of a nice thought in the middle of a busy day.''

Under the new program, ``Lullaby Baby Welcome,'' new parents call in a special phone number to the main switchboard, which then broadcasts the 11-second recording, one full run of Brahm's Lullaby.

The music plays in hallways and main areas of the hospital, but not in individual or shared recovery rooms so as not to disturb, officials said. ``Everyone loves the program, because its just a happy occasion,'' said labor and delivery nurse Lynn Malfatti. ``It's shared through the hospital, it's just a really positive side of our department, to share the good news.''

The idea of spreading the joy of the maternity ward was first thought up by hospital volunteers who heard about it at a national hospital volunteers convention.

After planning by volunteers and administrators, the program aired Wednesday, welcoming the new babies. Volunteers also paid the $300 bill for the program.

``We wanted to bring something back to the hospital on a happy note,'' said Pat Van Acker, a past volunteer president. ``There are always these code blues, these code reds, we thought it would be something nice.''

``People who just went into surgery, who are recuperating, who are in ICU will hear this and it really soothes them,'' said hospital spokeswoman Kris Carraway-Bowman. ``It helps them to know that life is going on and life is good.''