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After more than 19 hours into 2019, Sussex County now has its first baby born in the new year!
Maria Virginia Cooney was born Jan. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Newton Medical Center, to Branchville residents Edna and Christopher Cooney. According to public relations manager, Louise Gonzalez, Maria was born 7 pounds, 4.8 ounces, measuring at 20.47 inches long. The Cooney's also have a 13-year-old son, Liam.
Baby Maria's original due date was Jan. 4, but her mother began having contractions before 2018 could end. They checked in to the hospital around 7:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
Christopher Cooney states that Edna had endured about 24 hours of contractions where there became complications with dilation. Currently both Edna and baby Maria are doing well and hope to go home today.
You can see baby Maria with her parents, here.
Meanwhile, Maria was not the first actual local baby to be born in the new year. Morristown Medical Center had one baby born while New Year's celebrations were still taking place. Gonzalez mentioned that another baby girl Aya Zughbi made her first appearance to the world at 12:31 a.m. on Jan. 1. and is officially the first baby to be born in 2019 throughout all Atlantic Health System branches.
Source: The NJ Herald