The San Fernando General Hospital recorded its first baby in the new year at 12.37 a.m.

The baby boy, weighing 2.43 kilogrammes, was delivered to 27-year-old Ashti Nandlal.

"I can't express the joy I feel today. This is an extra special New Year's Day and I am looking forward to many, many happy years with my son," Nandlal, a data entry clerk, said.

The baby, named Sanjay, was Nandlal's first baby. Her husband, truck driver Jerome Mahabir, said he was overjoyed.

Nandlal, of Clarke Road, Penal, said her baby was due on January 25.

"But I was home yesterday when my water broke. I started getting pains and I came to the hospital. This was unexpected and I can't wait to go home with my baby boy," she said.

Mahabir, 27, said he was at home when he got the news.

"I was at the hospital with her and then I went home. I was watching TV and then I got a call saying the baby came. I was surprised and happy that the baby came on the first day of the year."

The second baby came at 2.17 a.m.

Donny Ramgoolam, 34, said nurses expected his wife to deliver the first New Year's Day baby.

"She went into the delivery room first, but she was having some complications. She spent two hours in there. But my baby was born healthy and we are very happy," he said.

His wife, Natrisher Samlal-Ramgoolam, was feeding their first born baby when the Express visited the post-natal ward yesterday.

The baby, named Justin Joshua, weighed 2.94 kilogrammes.

Ramgoolam said his family was planning to ring in the New Year with a barbecue at Morne Roche, Williamsville.

"But then she began experiencing pains and we came to the hospital. I am thankful my wife had a safe delivery and everything went well," he said.

First Citizens presented the first baby with a Neo account valued $500 and a hamper containing baby items. Brenda Singh, manager of the bank's Gulf View, La Romaine, branch said the first babies at five hospitals across the country were presented with Neo accounts and hampers.

Rookmin Harbajan-Pirmal, head of the post-natal ward, said seven babies—four boys and three girls—were delivered at the hospital as at 12.25 p.m. yesterday.

Andrea McNish, of La Lune, Moruga, was the only mother to deliver her baby by Caesarean Section yesterday. McNish delivered a baby boy, named Christian, at 9.43 a.m.

The Express was told that one baby was delivered at the Point Fortin Area Hospital yesterday.