First South Florida Babies Born In The New Year
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve some expectant mothers in South Florida weren't popping champagne corks, they were in hospital delivery rooms giving birth and vying for the title of first Baby of 2018.
The Defreitas family of Weston welcomed 8 pound 2 ounce Brendan Jorge at 12:05 a.m. at Memorial Hospital West, making him the first baby of 2018 in Broward County.
"I went into labor Friday. But then everything began to go fast. We came in and it happened," says new mom Marissa Defreitas.
It happened about an hour later for the Garcia family at South Miami Hospital.
Their 8 pound 5 ounce baby girl, Francesca became the first 2018 birth in Miami-Dade County.
Jessica Garcia says she never expected this January 1st special delivery. It's her first child.
Marissa Defreitas says she never anticipated having a New Year's baby either, and she's used to the unexpected.
She's a pediatric nephrologist at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
"My whole team said this would happen. They predicted it so I have to give a shout out to all of them," said Defreitas.
She says while being a doctor, giving birth can be daunting because you are aware of what can go wrong.
Being a mother makes her a better doctor. Brendan is her second child and older brother, Alex who is turning three, says he can't wait to show his new baby brother all his toys, especially a toy alligator.
"I love Brendan," he said with a smile.
Those little ones aren't the only newborns in South Florida that just couldn't wait to get the new year started.
Salah Foundation Children's Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center welcomed a nine-pound 10-ounce baby girl at 12:07 a.m. Parents Hanh Ngyuen and Albert Crespo of Plantation were thrilled to welcome Natali Lin Crespo into the world.
Baptist Hospital said they had a mother give birth to a girl at 12:58 a.m. at South Miami Hospital.
They added that another New Year's Day baby, Layla, was born at 5:36am at Baptist Children's Hospital of Miami. Layla arrived at four pounds and 19 inches.
Doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach delivered their first baby of the new year, Valentino Ortiz, who clocked in at seven pounds, 13 ounces. He was delivered at 1:58 a.m.
Jackson Memorial Health System said their first new arrival was delivered at 5:54 a.m. at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
