There is no question that the first New York City baby of 2013 was born in Queens, but two hospitals in the borough are claiming they delivered a child at midnight on January 1.
New York Hospital Queens announced that a baby named Olivia, weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces, was born at exactly 12 a.m. to parents Rosemary Espinal and Freddy Pena of Brooklyn, but Elmhurst Hospital said another girl, Kaylee, weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces, entered the world at the same time.
Since the two babies were both delivered at the stroke of midnight, they will share the title of first born.
“Her due date was January 4 so we were very surprised and excited. We didn’t think she would be born at midnight,” said Rosemary Espinal.
Rosalba Merino and Eutiquo Mejia with baby Kaylee (Photo courtesy of Elmhurst Hospital)
Both hospitals gave the parents gifts for having the first baby of the year.
Kaylee’s mother and father, Rosalba Merino and Eutiquo Mejia of Queens, received a gift basket with clothes and other baby supplies, which Elmhurst Hospital gives to the parents of the first baby born at its facility each year.
New York Hospital Queens gave Olivia’s parents a $250 gift card and a congratulatory basket of flowers.
Staff from New York Hospital Queens present gifts to baby Olivia’s family.
