“We are in the 7th heaven”

“We are in the 7th heaven,” Maikel Pikientio told Times of Suriname after his son was born in the Diakonessenhuis around 1:12 a.m. on January 1. The proud father explained that his sister was also a New Year’s baby which is why the family will have two birthdays on the same date. Father Pikientio now has three sons. The other boys are 2 and 12. “My brother, Humprhey Pikientio, brought my wife, Rowayda Linga, to the hospital around 6 a.m. on December 31st. I visited my wife in the hospital around 5 p.m. I am very happy that my wife gave birth to a healthy baby. I was impressed by the fact that my wife was discharged from the hospital the same day my son was born.” Nurse Judith WijngaardeSniphout who works at the Diakonesseshuis told Times of Suriname that the first baby of 2018 weighs 3,280 grams and that the mother gave birth within 1 minute. Diakonessenhuis considers it a real honor that it had the privilege of welcoming the nation’s first baby in 2018. In 2017 most babies were reportedly born in this hospital. Reports indicate that 2,677 babies were born in Diakonessenhuis. 2,465 babies were born in ‘s Lands Hospital and 2,129 babies were born in the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP). “We are proud of ourselves,” said Nurse WijngaardeSniphout who added that although there are fewer midwives, there are more births at the Diakonessenhuis. Up until 3 p.m. of the first day of the new year 3 baby boys and 1 baby girl were born at the Diakonessenhuis. Up until 1 p.m. 3 babies were born at St Vincentius Ziekenhuis. Ayana Dyna Flijders was the first baby to be born at St Vincentius around 9:56 a.m. Andrew Amatkarijo came in second around 10:56 a.m.