At the stroke of midnight, Cire Thomas-Lewis was the first baby born at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (POSGH). The healthy baby girl weighed in at 3.16kg and is the first child for Jeunnessa Thomas, 30, of Trincity.
Yesterday, the new mother said she prayed for baby Cire to grow up to be a powerful woman who is not easily influenced by negative people. "I want my daughter to be focused and the one to impart knowledge and positivity to those around," she said.
POSGH's second baby, a boy, was born at 12.34 am weighing 3.06kg. It was the third child for Kasandra Mc Donald, 34 of Morvant, who expressed happiness that her baby was born on the first day of 2017.
"I thank God for a safe delivery because it was very hard for me. I am happy my son is healthy," she said.
Mc Donald has not yet decided on a name for her newborn but has in mind Vaughn, which perfectly blends with the name of her four-year-old son, Javon. She said Javon and her ten-year-old daughter, T'keyah, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new brother at home.
At the Mount Hope Women's Hospital the first New Year's baby, Rayanna, was born at 1.12 am to Christiana Sahadeo-Pakeerah and her husband Ryan Pakeerah, of Brazil Village.
The second baby, born at 2.46 am to first time mother Vashti Rampersad, 26, of Arouca, was baby boy named Chase, while Lima Okeiffie, 39, of Maloney, gave birth her third baby after 14 years.
"Given it was so long it felt like my first. My first daughter, Racquel, 16 and her brother, Raheem, 14, are very excited about their baby sister, Jordyn Fraser. She will be their new toy," Okeiffie said with a broad smile.