Ponoka and Rimbey hospitals welcomed New Year’s babies.
Beau Mitchell Omeasoo Jr. arrived at 3:53 p.m. on Friday at Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre.
The six-pound, five-ounce boy was born to Sara Buffalo.
Keagan Cassidy Storrs, was born at 8:18 a.m. Saturday to Heather McClymont and Ronald Storrs.
The girl, weighing seven pounds and one ounce, came into the world at Rimbey Hospital.
By SUSAN ZIELINSKI
Advocate staff
Red Deer’s New Year’s baby clocked in at 2:47 a.m. on Friday.
Madden Morales, weighing seven pounds and six ounces (3.24 kilograms), was born to Elisha and Orlando Morales, of Red Deer.
Madden’s due date was Jan. 1 and his mom tried an old-fashion method to make sure he arrived on time.
“I listened to a friend’s advice to take castor oil, going for a walk and shovelling snow. So I did that and I had contractions at about 6 p.m.,” said Elisha Morales, 23, late Friday morning in the maternity ward at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, she swallowed three tablespoons of castor oil, which Elisha said was “gross.”
“It’s just really, really slimy. It’s like drinking oil.”
In the past few weeks she tried to stay active and recommended other pregnant women reaching their due dates to move to keep their delivery on track.
“Don’t lay down. Walk. Or shovel snow. Or do something.”
Her water broke at about 2 a.m. and after going for a short walk down a hospital corridor the baby started to come out.
“I almost didn’t make it back to the birthing room down the hall.”
She pushed for three minutes and Madden was born.
“The nurses were shocked,” Morales said about the speedy delivery.
The maternity ward was kept busy with patients through New Year’s. A baby was born at about 10 p.m. on Thursday, and another was born after Madden.
Morales said the distinction of being the city’s first baby of 2010 is great, but more importantly everyone is healthy. But tired.
“I’m glad he’s here.”
Madden was born 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) long and has a brother Diego, three, and a step-sister Rosalyn Loden, seven.
Morales has worked in customer service at Sobey’s Village Mall store and her husband works for CMR Fabricators.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com