Canterbury’s first baby of 2018
A Canterbury couple joked they would get their names in the paper by having the region’s first baby of 2018 – and they did.
William Scott Savage was born at Christchurch’s St George’s Hospital at 1.26am on New Year’s Day.
Ecstatic parents Tania and Michael Savage were pleased baby William arrived safe and healthy, weighing 3.27 kilograms.
The last year had proved to be an eventful time for the couple. In the space of 12 months, they got married, built a house in Christchurch, and became pregnant with their first child.
‘‘It was more exciting, it was more fun, there was never a dull moment,’’ Michael said.
‘‘To finally see him . . . it’s a mix between relief and just excitement.’’
William was originally due on Christmas Day, but when he missed Santa, the couple’s midwife told them he was most likely coming on New Year’s Day instead. ‘‘The whole nine months we joked, ‘oh we’re going to be the first one to have a baby on New Year’s Day and get our name in the paper’,’’ Tania said.
She felt happy and relieved to get through the pregnancy without any problems and said William was doing well following the birth.
‘‘He has just been feeding and sleeping really well.’’
Although William was the first baby born in Canterbury, he missed out on being the first in New Zealand.
Baby Rex Lu took the privilege of being the nation’s first baby in 2018, arriving at 12.01am in Auckland.
Michael, who is originally from Australia, met Tania while living in Brisbane.
The couple decided to move back to Christchurch two years ago to be closer to Tania’s family.
They hope 2018 will be a quieter year, and plan to visit Australia in the next few months so William can meet the rest of their family.
‘‘I think we are just going to settle in and enjoy everything,’’ Tania said.