New Year babies
Meet 2017's first new babies
‘We waited until the clock turned to midnight and then I started to push really hard,’ says the mother of one of 2017’s first Israeli babies; ‘I only want her to grow up to be happy.’
Just like every new year, some parents are determined to give their children a special birth date—1/1. At the close of 2016, some babies were fortunate enough to make it first past the finish line just late enough to be crowned the first of 2017.
“We waited until the clock turned to midnight and then according to the the birth instructions, I started to push really hard. Minutes later, the surprise came into the world,” said Hilla Sol overnight Sunday, who gave birth to her daughter at 00:09.
Her husband Lior was also in the room with her as she was giving birth in Ichilov hospital.
Hilla and Lior Sol welcome their New Year's daughter
In Sefad Ziv Medical Center, just a few minutes after midnight the first baby of 2017 was born to the happy parents, Dikla and Haim Moshe from Kiryat Shmoneh.
Despite the heavy winds and cold temperatures outside, their new bundle of joy was able to warm everyone’s hearts.
The baby, born just after midnight, weighed just 3.880kg, meaning Amit and Roni Moshe now have a new brother.
In 2016, 2,441 babies were born in the new delivery room in the Ziv Medical Center.
In Beilinson Hospital, four babies were born overnight. Efrat (33) and Yossi (37) from Petah Tikva arrived at the hospital on the last day of 2016 and the following morning at 4:33am, Efrat gave birth to an adorable little baby weighing just 3,330kg.
Efrat and Yossi Moshe with their new daughter
But for Efrat and Yossi, the fact that yesterday marked the birth of their first child means that the timing could not have been more appropriate.
“When we left for the hospital I was scared that it would be crowded but the moment that we got there I saw that everything was going on as usual and we thought 1/1 is a great date,” Efrat said with a huge smile.
“The truth is that this is something totally spontaneous, and not planned. We said that it should come whenever it is ready. What is clear is that she has good taste.”
Efrat said that the birth was comparatively easier than the first time, praising the medical staff for their work. “The medical team gave us a good feeling every step of the way and they were simply wonderful,” she said.
Michal overwhelmed with joy for her premature but healthy baby (Photo: Liad Avial/Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center)
The couple have yet to name their daughter and due to her pregnancy, Efrat said, “I never celebrated Yossi’s birthday but now he has received a really beautiful birthday present. I am so excited. This is our first year as parents. I wish for her to grow to be a happy and loved girl.”
Also shortly after midnight, Michal and Rom brought a little 1.480kg boy into the world at Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center. They decided to name him Eitan. The mother and baby are both in good health, despite the baby’s premature birth.
“He was supposed to be born in a month but Eitan chose otherwise, ran ahead of everyone and became the first baby to have been born in this hospital in 2017,” the parents boasted with pride.
