Baby may be the first of New Year
An unnamed babe born to a midwife was probably the first birth of the New Year in Taranaki.
Sheldon Healey and Grace Maha’s baby boy arrived at 5:30am on January 1 weighing 6.2 pounds (2.8kg).
‘‘There was someone else in labour but she delivered before midnight, and we all thought we might be the first,’’ Maha, said. ‘‘But someone could just walk in and drop a baby. I was surprised actually when there was word that he might be the first.
‘‘It was funny, when I was in labour my family was talking about the time he’d be born - would it be 1:11am, something to go with the 1-1-18. It kind of is just what it is.’’
Maha, a midwife, who also got engaged to Healey on December 20, said their little man had been due on January 3.
‘‘It’s weird with the birth and stuff switching off your midwife brain amd just letting what’s happening happen without thinking about it too much.’’
However Mum and Dad are still deciding on a name for their new addition.
‘‘I kind of want it to go with our
18-month-old’s name, which is Sharn, but finding another ‘sh’ name without it being too cheesy is a bit hard.’’
She said she hadn’t really thought she would have more children after her now 19-year-old son.
‘‘I was quite happy just with him and then I met my partner and then it kind of just happened. But it’s cool.’’
She also wanted to thank her midwife, Sharyn King, for all her support.
Maha said given the date her little one might have a few hungover birthdays with his siblings as they get older.
‘‘But I think it’s kind of cool, the first of January, to have that as a birthday.
‘‘He’s the last final addition of our little family and he just kind of completes us really.’’
Rex Lu was probably New Zealand’s first 2018 baby, born at
12:01am in Auckland.