First 2018 baby in Norwich comes nine hours into the New Year

  • 2018-01-11
One of the first of Norwich’s recorded births in 2018 was at 9:08 am on January 1.

Bailey Eve Archuleta was the first child born at William W. Backus Hospital in the New Year, to Amanda and Mark Archuleta. She weighed 7lb and 14oz.

Amanda could not believe another child was not born at the hospital before Bailey, since she came mid-morning. At the initial ultrasound, the doctor and her parents though she was a boy, but a second ultrasound determined she was a girl.

The Archuletas now have two children: Bailey's older brother, Jameson, is 16 months old. Mark expressed the couple's excitement to show Jameson his new baby sister, even though he is currently too young to understand who she is.

As the first baby born at William W. Backus for 2018, Bailey and her family was showered with gifts from the hospital, including gift cards, toys, hats, homemade blankets, and pacifiers. According to Renee Witkovic, a nurse at the hospital, staff donate the items in the gift baskets. They make a basket for a boy and a girl.

The couple moved from the state of Washington to Groton three months ago, expecting Bailey to arrive later in the month on January 16. Despite the early arrival, Amanda is feeling well.

Hospitals sometimes printing services to make a certificate for the first baby born in the hospital.