CINCINNATI — Happy New Year, Tri-State!
It's officially 2025 and there are already great things happening in the Greater Cincinnati area: Several hospitals have welcomed the first newborns of the new year.
One of the first to be born in the Greater Cincinnati area was baby Hayes, who was born at Bethesda North Hospital right at the stroke of midnight, a spokesperson for the hospital said.
Tying with Baby Hayes was Baby Rilyn, who also joined the world at exactly midnight as we rang in the new year. She was born at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown to parents Amie and James.
The next tiny tot who couldn't wait to arrive in Cincinnati was the first to arrive at UC Health, becoming the first Baby Bearcat of 2025.
Jerry and Hayley Gillespie met their newest family member, and third son, Taylor Gillespie just minutes after midnight.
“All the nurses were yelling out ‘Happy New Year’ and yeah it was really sweet. Everyone had fun stuff on and it was very cute,” said Hayley.
Baby Taylor is in the NICU currently, as he was born a few weeks early and had low oxygen levels at first. But mom says he is doing better and is off the oxygen. The hope is for him to be back in mom’s room by Jan. 2. His two big brothers, Drew and Jesse, are excited to meet him.
We asked Hayley if her family would begin any New Year’s traditions, now that they have a New Year baby.
“We probably will, we’ll probably start having the New Year’s parties at our house,” Hayley said.
Next up was Baby Hodge, born at 12:33 a.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital to proud parents Lauren and Owen.
Finally, one baby held out a little longer than others — but still made his grand entrance within the first hour of the New Year.
Born to parents Erin and Stewart, Baby Oliver was born at 12:53 a.m. Wednesday morning at St. Elizabeth's in Edgewood.
“I think at 11:45 p.m. a couple nurses came in saying, ‘You have 15 more minutes! Can you do it?’ and then it started kinda saying like, ‘Oh man Jan. 1, here we are,’” said Stewart Higgins, baby Oliver’s dad.
And Oliver knew exactly when he wanted to make his debut. Stewart and Erin, Oliver’s mom, arrived at the hospital Monday. Erin’s blood pressure was low and they were admitted.
“The whole process took like two days,” Erin said. “Yeah like started medicine right after we got admitted.”
Baby Oliver is Erin and Stewart's first baby together, calling for a day of celebration.
“We went through IVF for him and everything so it’s been a long process, and just to be here with him in our arms it’s just amazing,” said Erin.
Oliver’s half-brother met him on New Year’s Day and is excited to be a big brother. For the Higgins family, the next step is going home to rest and have Oliver meet the family dogs.
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