NHH welcomes first 2026 baby
Photo courtesy of Northumberland Hills Hospital.
By: Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital's first baby of 2026 wasted no time making her way into the world Jan. 1, arriving at 12:02 a.m.
Weighing 6 lb. 7 oz. and measuring 19 inches long, little Emma is the first child for Hayley Boivin and Nat Hladysh of Port Hope.
“We thought she would be born earlier but, as the day went on, we thought maybe she will be a New Year baby,” Hayley said.
“She just made it into the new year! We are excited, happy and a bit overwhelmed.
“We want to thank Dr. Awad and Dr. Smith, the anesthetist Dr. Radonich, and the nurses Alyssa, Tori and Kristen for all of their care and attentiveness.”
As per NHH tradition, Emma leaves with a gift basket prepared and donated by hospital staff and volunteers. Members of the Maternal-Child Care team took the initiative to hand-pick items they felt new parents would appreciate and enjoy. With support from NHH, as well as its Foundation and Auxiliary, a personalized gift basket was presented to Nate and Hayley.
“What a lovey surprise!” Hayley declared.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness.”
Over the past fiscal year, the Maternal-Child Care team at NHH supported more than 500 births, thanks to a strong partnership with local obstetrician-gynecologists, family physicians, anesthesiologists and area midwives.
Designed with the unique needs of newborns, their mothers and family members in mind, the unit is equipped with six labour and delivery beds (each in its own private suite), a Caesarean-section operating room and advanced fetal and patient monitoring.
New this month is a Newborn, Perinatal and Reproductive Care Clinic that will provide in-hospital non-urgent ambulatory services to support women's wellness and newborn health in both antenatal and postpartum phases of care for patients across Northumberland County – further details will be shared in the coming weeks on the NHH website.
For anyone expecting a baby in 2026, details of these services can be found at nhh.ca under the Maternal Childcare services in the Patient Services tab.
