Little Dexter makes it over the line to be born in hospital
A baby born on New Year's Day at New Cross Hospital was revved up for his arrival as he was nearly born in the car.
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Baby Dexter Harrison-Ridgway made it to the midwife led unit to be born at 7.22am weighing seven pounds and 11 ounces.
His parents Vicky Harrison and Richard Ridgway, both 36 from Rugeley told how they went to bed just after seeing the new year in at midnight, not expecting their new son to be born in a few hours time.
Richard said: "Vicky went into labour about 3am this morning. Things progressed fast and I took her into the hospital as quickly as I could but she almost gave birth in the car park.
“We came onto the unit at 7.15am and Dexter was born shortly after.
“Between us we have four daughters so Dexter will have lots of big sisters to play with. It is a great start to the new year.”
Dexter wasn't the first baby born at New Cross - Humaire Barveen gave birth to the first baby of 2025 at the hospital
The little girl was born at 4.33am on January 1 and weighs seven pounds and 14 ounces. Humaire, aged 38 from Wolverhampton, said her third daughter hasn’t been named yet.
She said: “It feels very special to have had her on New Year's Day. I didn’t expect it at all but it was a great surprise. I was originally due on 28 December but she was obviously waiting until the New Year,”
At Walsall Manor Hospital, little Kaia Tanashe Mwakona was the first baby born at Walsall at 5.52am on 1 January.
Weighing seven pounds and one ounce, Kaia’s proud parents Tisabel and Senz Mwakona said they were honoured their new baby girl was the first one born at the hospital this year.
Tisabel said: “It is amazing and special she is the first baby born here this year. Having a baby born on New Year’s Day is lovely. It was a long night but totally worth it
“The midwives were amazing – so supportive and kind - we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Closely following Kaia was the early arrival of Antonio Sebin at 6.13am, who weighs five pounds and eight ounces and wasn’t due until January 29.
Parents Femy Jose, 33, and Sebin Varghese, 35, had a worrying December after Femy’s waters broke on December 13.
Femy said: “We weren’t expecting him so soon but it is a really nice start to 2025. I can’t wait to get home now and introduce him to his big brother.”
At Russell's Hall Hospital in Dudley, the first born on New Year's Day was a daughter to the Chigumbura family at 3.36a weighing six pound and nine ounces - they have not named her yet.
