Two families in the Kawarthas region rang in the new year with the arrival of their first babies, with one arriving just a little later than anticipated and the other a few weeks ahead of schedule.
At Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg, the first baby of the new year arrived just after midnight.
Baby Emma was born at 12:02 a.m. on January 1 to Hayley Boivin and Nate Hladysh of Port Hope. Weighing 6 pounds and 7 ounces and measuring 19 inches long, Emma is the couple’s first child.
Hayley said she and Nate initially expected an earlier arrival, but as the day progressed, they began to suspect their daughter might be a New Year’s baby after all.
“She just made it into the new year,” Hayley said, adding the couple felt “excited, happy, and a bit overwhelmed.”
She thanked Dr. Awad and Dr. Smith, anaesthetist Dr. Radonich, and nurses Alyssa, Tori, and Kristen “for all of their care and attentiveness.”
As part of hospital tradition, Emma went home with a personalized gift basket prepared and donated by hospital staff and volunteers.
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay also helped welcome a New Year’s Day baby to the world — and, unlike Baby Emma, his arrival came much sooner than expected.
Weighing seven pounds and one ounce and measuring 21 inches long, Baby Theo was born at 8:47 p.m. on January 1 to parents Jessie and Mathew of Cambry.
Jessie said Theo’s due date was still weeks away when she went into labour early in the morning after New Year’s Eve. Just over 12 hours later, “my little sweetheart arrived.”
Despite being nervous, first-time mother Jessie said the experience was reassuring from start to finish and praised hospital staff for their care and support.
“From the minute we walked in the door and were greeted, to the staff cleaning our room, everyone has been fantastic,” she said. “Our nurse stayed an extra two hours to see the birth through. It feels like we’ve been at home — it’s been very comforting.”
As for first-time dad Mathew, he joked that he is looking forward to the future when Theo can help out on the family farm.
