NYC Families Welcome First Babies Of 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- At least three New York City hospitals welcomed the first babies of 2015 -- all boys and all born right after the stroke of midnight.
As CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported, there was some dispute as to which of the babies should get the title of the first baby of the year.
At precisely one second after the midnight ball drop in Times Square, Elias Ortega – all 19 1/2 inches, seven pounds and 10 ounces of irresistible adorableness – was ushered into the world of Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
"One second, literally, after midnight. It was 12 o'clock, 0-1 seconds," said his mother -- Angela Ortega, 28, of the North Bronx.
"She was very excited to have her baby at the turn of the hour," Dr. Sadia Sahabbi told WCBS 880.
Now, one would think that would make Elias the first baby of the New Year – especially in New York City, right?
"Absolutely, so I've been told. So I've been told," Ortega said.
But the title is disputed.
At Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, it seems little Maxim Olenyukh had other ideas. Maxim is eight pounds and eight ounces, and 21 inches tall.
He was born precisely, exactly, at the stroke of midnight, according to the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
"I can't believe it," his mother, Olena Olenyukh, told 1010 WINS. "He decides to be born on the new year and be a New Year's baby."
And Olenyukh, 30, of Sheepshead Bay, is adamant that Maxim is the first baby of the year. The proud hospital staff swears by it too – with a group of 11 doctors and nurses agreeing in unison that there was no doubt or debate about it.
It appeared that Maxim was indeed the first baby born in New York City in 2015 – by one second. He was crowned as such in a tweet by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"Well, mine was 12 o'clock and one second, so how can I really tell?" Ortega said.
The hospitals told CBS2 that neither woman had a C-section; both delivered naturally.
A third baby boy was born at HHC Metropolitan Hospital at 12:12 a.m., hospital officials said.
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