2 New Year babies born in Berbice as New Amsterdam Hospital welcomes 2026 arrivals 

Only two babies were born across the entire county of Berbice on New Year’s Day, both delivered at the New Amsterdam Hospital, making them the only births recorded in Berbice to usher in 2026. Hospital records show that the first New Year’s baby was delivered at approximately 02:41h on January 1 to 23-year-old Sheneeza Marumutu of Rose Hall. Medical records indicate the newborn weighed 3.3 kilograms (kg) and measured 54.5 centimetres (cm) in length, with a strong Apgar score recorded shortly after birth. Marumutu said she realised she was going into labour during the night into New Year’s morning and headed to the hospital after noticing signs that the baby was ready to come. On the experience of giving birth on New Year’s Day, she said the moment carried a sense of happiness.
The baby’s father, Ganesh Chothu, a fisherman, said the birth on New Year’s Day brought joy to the family and that he had strongly felt the baby would arrive on that date.
“I am very happy because I told her that it would be born on this day.”
He recalled that he told his wife that the baby would not be born on her birthday, which was December 27. The fisherman also shared the reason behind the name chosen for the newborn. “The name is Avaya, because her brother’s name starts with A, and it will rhyme… his name is Avian.”
The second and only other New Year’s delivery recorded for Berbice at the New Amsterdam Hospital occurred later that day at approximately 15:43h, according to hospital records, to Akesha Gordon. The records indicate the baby was born through a normal delivery, and both mother and newborn were attended to by medical staff and received routine postnatal care. Hospital staff confirmed that no other New Year’s Day deliveries were recorded elsewhere in Berbice, making the two births the county’s only arrivals for January 1. Ward Sister Kisha Bender used the opportunity to remind mothers about the importance of breastfeeding and proper postnatal care, noting that breastfeeding plays a critical role in a baby’s early development.
“The ideal time for breastfeeding would be six months, because the mother passes her immunity onto her baby. Once she does that for the six recommended months, it will boost the baby’s immune system more,” Bender explained.
She also pointed to nutritional benefits for newborns. “Once Mommy is eating healthy, all of Mommy’s nutrition will pass to the baby as well,” she said.
Bender encouraged mothers who may need to return to work to consider expressing and properly storing breast milk. “You can pump as well, extract the milk and store it properly, and you can feed it to the baby in order for them to get the proper nutrition and boost their immune system,” she advised. While the number of births was small this year, health officials said each delivery remains significant, symbolising hope and a fresh start as Berbice welcomed 2026.