New year brings in bundles of joy

DURBAN got the new year to a good start when in welcomed a number of New Year babies.

According to the KZN Health Department, 87 babies were born throughout KwaZulu-Natal in state hospitals.

In welcoming the newborn babies, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, along with eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo, handed out gifts to mothers of New Year’s day babies at King Edward VIII Hospital in Umbilo. Dhlomo also visited moms at GJ Crookes on the South Coast.

Six babies – four girls and two boys – were born at King Edward Hospital.

At Netcare Parklands Hospital, five babies were born on 1 January.

Rakshaben Pala and Sanjay Mohanlal welcomed a little baby girl at 12.07pm. They said she had been due on 15 January, so were surprised by her early arrival.

This is their second child. They have a three-year-old son, Ishan.

The couple, who are from Mozambique and were renting a flat at North Beach while they waited for the birth of their daughter, still had to choose a name for their little one.

“We are Hindu, so we have to name our child according to the sun sign, so we will have to find out which letter will be used, it will be either a B, V or U. We are excited as our girl was born on the first, which is an auspicious Hindu day according to the moon calendar,” said Sanjay.

“This is the first girl child in the family after three generations, so we are excited,” said Rakshaben.

Diane Watson and Loriana Trisolino welcomed twins, Levi Skye and Tristan Troy, with Levi born at 6.33am and Tristan at 6.34am .

“She had to be first and she is showing her dominance already!” said Loriana.

The twins were due on either 7 or 8 January, however Tristan had growth restrictions and the doctor said he had to operate earlier.

“These are our first and last children! We are both tired at the moment but very excited. We are very happy that we had a boy and a girl, however our scenario is different, so it would’ve been a blessing either way. We are ecstatic! They are not identical, but you can see they are siblings. We have high hopes for their future, but have promised each other that we will let them be who they want to be,” she said.

Virushka and Neil Rajaram had a gorgeous little boy at 10.37am on 1 January, weighing 2.2kg.

“He was only due on 31 January, so it was a big surprise! But he is perfect! He is still in the NICU, but should be out later today (2 January). He was just in such a rush to come out!” said Neil.

“We were not prepared, I needed at least another week, but he just wanted to make an appearance!” said Virushka.

He is the couple’s first child. They said as they are Hindi, they are waiting for their priest to give them a letter based on stars and the time and date of birth, so they can choose a name.

“I want it to be different, something never heard before! I can’t wait to touch him, I just want to hold him and squeeze him,” said Virushka.

The couple said they have high hopes for their son’s future.

“I’m a sports fanatic, so I want him to be a cricketer, but Virushka wants him to be a physicist! He can be both, a cricketer and in off season, a physicist!” said Neil.

Zaidha and Yaseen Ismail celebrated the birth of their daughter Yusrah at 6.45pm. She too was due later in the month and her arrival was a surprise to her doting parents.

“Yusrah was only due on 11 January. I went into labour but eventually had a caesar, but it was all worth it! We are so excited about her birth, we just want to take her home,” said Zaidha.

Yaseen said it was such a surreal experience and he was so in awe of her.

“Our family is very excited and went crazy when she was born! This is the first granddaughter on both sides, which added to the excitement!” said Yaseen.

“My sister is visiting from Johannesburg and didn’t want to miss her birth, as she was supposed to go back before the 11th, so she is so happy to have met her. My nephew kept rubbing my stomach and saying ‘baby come out now’. He knew, people say children have intuition about these things,” said Zaidha.

At Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital, four babies were born on New Year’s day.

Sive Nyokana and Siboniso Mthembu were overjoyed with the birth of their baby boy at 11.30am, weighing 3.46kg.

“He was due on 12 January and when I started having pain, I thought I was sick and would be going back home again, but there he was, what a surprise! He is our first child,” said Sive.

Siboniso was very excited to have a son, although Sive said she would’ve been happy with either.

“We haven’t chosen a name for him and will have to give it some thought. Such a special soul needs a good name!” said Sive.

She said he had been good so far and wasn’t a ‘cry baby’.

The couple have high hopes for him, and his dad said he hoped he would be a doctor one day.