SMH New Year’s baby born Jan. 2
Published 8:49 am Saturday, January 5, 2013
FRANKLIN—Nearing the end of her 12-hour shift on New Year’s Day, Cheryl Guthrie went into labor one week early.
Cheryl Guthrie, 26, of Holland holds her son, Wyatt Roman Arnold, who was the New Year’s baby at Southampton Memorial Hospital. -- SUBMITTED/ANNE WILLIAMS
The 26-year-old didn’t have far to go to deliver Southampton Memorial Hospital’s first baby of 2013; she’s a licensed practical nurse there.
“I checked myself in, went home and got a shower and came here,” said Guthrie, who at 1 a.m. Wednesday gave birth to a son.
“It was very exciting,” the Holland woman said. “I didn’t think I was (the New Year’s mom because) I heard there was a baby upstairs already.”
Wyatt Roman Arnold weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces and was 18 inches long. The baby’s father is Gregory Arnold of Chesapeake, a construction worker. Wyatt joins a sister, Aubrey, 16 months.
The baby was due on Jan. 9 and was born full term, said Guthrie, who is a registered nursing student at Paul D. Camp Community College.
“I didn’t know he was going to be so little, but I was 39 weeks on the day I had him,” she said. “He’s breathing on his own and looks like a premature baby.”
Wyatt is on a feeding tube.
Mother and baby as of Friday remained hospitalized. Four hours before Wyatt was born, doctors decided to do an emergency Caesarean-section on Guthrie due to anticipated complications.
The baby’s grandparents are Betty and Nelson Guthrie of Suffolk, Carolyn Kowalski of Chesapeake and Paul Arnold of Suffolk.
The hospital presented Guthrie with money and a basket of gifts that included two teddy bears, a picture frame, a bib and candy.
