‘A one-of-a-kind delivery’: Abbotsford welcomes first baby of the new year
Gabriella Louise Villanueva Camayang wasn’t ready to meet the press until her mom had slept off a rather long night. The Lower Mainland’s first baby was born to Thea Villanueva and Arben Camayang on Jan. 1 at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, weighing in at just 5 pounds 10 oz.
Camayang said the couple were “kind of surprised” at the excitement that erupted in the delivery room when little Gabriella made her first appearance at two minutes past midnight, and they never imagined a bevy of photographers would turn up at the hospital to meet her.
“We are both Filipino, and this is the first time we’ve heard about something special about first babies of the new year. We didn’t know it would be such a big deal,” said Camayang.
Of course every baby is a big deal, but with Gabriella there were a number of surprises. Gabriella wasn’t expected until Jan. 21, but after Villanueva experienced high blood pressure over the holidays, doctors decided to induce the baby on December 30.
“They said it’s going to take two or three days, and then a long labour because it’s my first,” said Villanueva. But Gabby, perhaps anticipating her coming celebrity, was in a hurry.
