By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur
THE medical staff of the maternity ward at the New Amsterdam Hospital was kept busy on New Year’s Day as they delivered five bundles of joy — four girls and a boy.
The mothers hailed from West and East Berbice; the five babies were delivered between 01:45hrs and 21:58hrs on January 1, 2021.

Lisa Edwin, who was initially scheduled to give birth on January 25, 2021, was the first to give birth at 01:45hrs, after arriving at the hospital moments before midnight on December 31. Edwin told the Sunday Chronicle that she was with family members waiting to usher in the new year when she started to experience labour pains; her water bag broke around 22:30hrs at her Number 70 Village, Corentyne home.

The 23-year-old was rushed to the delivery room where she was monitored by the medical staff; she gave birth to a 4.6 lbs baby girl, her fourth child. Edwin shared that her other daughters and family members were in disbelief that she gave birth until they saw the pictures of the little one.

“This new year surprise was so unexpected and quick; them girls after seeing her pictures now want me to hurry home so that they can be with her. They so excited, [they] can’t wait and keep asking when [I am] going home,” an elated Edwin said.

The next to give birth was Maria Ali, 18, a first-time mother from Cotton Tree, West Berbice; she delivered a 6.4 lbs baby girl at 04:10hrs. Ali was scheduled to give birth on December 30, 2020, and was in the hospital since then, but she started to experience labour pains only after midnight on New Year’s Day.

“This is very exciting to have a new year baby. It’s a blessing and the perfect new year’s gift,” Ali told the Sunday Chronicle as she expressed gratitude to the doctor and nurses for guiding her throughout the entire process.
Meanwhile, shortly before 13:00hrs, the lone baby boy, weighing 5.4 lbs, was delivered to another first-time mother Tiana Carpen, of Chesney Albion, Corentyne. She recalled that she spent the entire New Year’s Eve with family and even broke the new year with them. She later experienced “sharp pains” and visited the Port Mourant Hospital but was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital in the wee hours of Friday morning, when she was admitted to the labour ward until it was time for her to deliver.

Goroshnie Goordial of East Canefield Settlement, Canje, was the fourth mother to give birth at 20:20hrs to a 4.4 lbs baby girl while Tarmila Bhawan of Number 72 Village, Corentyne, gave birth to a bouncing 7.3 lbs baby girl at 21:58hrs.

The mothers were presented with hampers from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital Mr. Michael Khan, who was accompanied by the Chief Medical Superintendent Dr. Vasana Henry; Director of Health Services in Region Six, Dr. Vishalya Sharma, along with Gynaecologist Dr. Surujaul Singh and nurses from the maternity ward of the hospital.