By Belinda Nolan
HE MAY have been one of the West’s first New Year babies, but little Garry Singh was determined to make his parents wait.
The tiny tot was the first baby to be born at Western Health hospitals for 2011, making his grand entrance into the world at Sunshine Hospital at 2.20am on New Year’s Day.
Despite beating other babies to the punch, little Garry’s sluggish appearance threw his family into panic.
Although he was due to arrive on 29 December, the dawdling newborn had other ideas. Mum Sandeep began experiencing contractions around 5pm on 30 December, but a full day later there was still no sign of the bub.
“I was in pain the whole night and at 12.40 my water finally broke,” the first time mum said.
“I was expecting a normal delivery, but his heartbeat was slowing down so the doctors had to intervene.” The baby was born by emergency C-Section and discharged four days later.
“We decided to name him Garry because it is a common name in India, where we come from,” Sandeep said.
“I wasn’t expecting a New Year’s baby, I thought he would be born in December but I’m pleased because 1st January is a lucky date.
“So he’s a lucky baby.”
A total of 11 babies were born in Western Health hospitals that are based in Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown.
Werribee’s Mercy Hospital had the West’s very first baby born at 12:23am. Families with New Year babies had another reason to smile as the first to take advantage of the Paid Parental Leave scheme that came into effect on New Year’s Day.
