New year comes with new arrival
Aimee Weallean and Joseph Christie were expecting a late December baby but their new girl arrived 90 minutes into 2019.
She was the first baby born in Taranaki in 2019, entering the world at 1.29am yesterday, weighing just over six and a half pounds (2.9kg).
‘‘I thought maybe the 31st or the 30th but no,’’ Weallean said from the maternity ward at Taranaki Base Hospital.
The little one doesn’t have a name yet.
‘‘I liked Frankie but it’s not going to suit her,’’ Weallean said.
So far she’s been a good baby, spending most of her time asleep except for the three-hourly checks of her glucose levels.
‘‘All she does is sleep. She’s been good... when she starts talking she won’t be.’’
Weallean said she was in labour for about five and a half hours but did most of it at home. She was ‘‘relieved’’ it was over but happy to start her life with the latest addition to the family.
Big brother, 9-year-old Montel, was also excited about his new sister, even if he didn’t quite get the sibling he was after.
"He wanted a brother but he’ll be happy with a girl too.’’
The latest addition will also be the last, she said.
‘‘It’s basically getting to know her now. My son’s coming to see her soon so just being a family.’’
There were 918 babies born in the New Plymouth District in 2017, with a further 120 in Stratford, and 354 in South Taranaki. Figures for babies born in 2018 have not yet been collated.
Weallean and her little girl should be able to go home today.
‘‘I can’t wait to go home. They’ll keep me busy.’’