Easton baby first to arrive at TAMC
Photo courtesy of TAMC
NEW YEAR’S BABY — Matt and Chelsea Hopkins, and newborn daughter Maggie Ann Hopkins, of Easton, are presented a gift basket from staff in the TAMC Women and Children’s Unit in honor of Maggie’s arrival as the first baby born in Aroostook County in 2013.
Presenting the basket, with items valued at over $375, are members of the team that helped deliver and care for Maggie, in back from left: Christine Turner, RN, nursery nurse; Nancy Escobar, MSN, CNM, the certified nurse midwife delivering Maggie; and Leslie Wheaton, labor and delivery nurse.
PRESQUE ISLE — The first baby of the New Year for Aroostook County was welcomed into the world at TAMC on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 8:18 a.m. Maggie Ann Hopkins weighed in at 8 pounds, 13.5 ounces and measured 20.52 inches long.
Hopkins is the third daughter born to Matt and Chelsea Hopkins of Easton. Her parents and two big sisters, 3-and-a-half-year-old Olivia and 1-and-a-half-year-old Abbie, will welcome Maggie to their newly-constructed home in Easton upon her release from TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle later this week. Prior to moving into their new home in Easton just before Thanksgiving the family lived in Fort Fairfield.
In honor of the special delivery, the Hopkins were presented with a nearly three-foot tall basket of gifts for the newborn and family members. Valued at over $375, the basket included clothing and various other items for newborns, a hand-made quilt donated by the Crown of Maine Quilters and various gift cards to local restaurants and businesses. The items were presented on behalf of the TAMC team by the staff in the Women and Children’s Unit.
“She’s absolutely precious and perfect,” said mom Chelsea Hopkins. “We are just so thrilled and touched by the wonderful gifts and all of the excitement. I was actually surprised to learn she was the first baby born in Aroostook County in 2013. I figured someone had delivered on New Year’s Day. But my grandfather kept joking she would wait to be the first baby of the New Year so that she could make a grand entrance into the world. I guess he knew something we didn’t!”
The County’s first baby of 2013 was supposed to be a Christmas miracle. Maggie was originally due to arrive in the world on December 24. Chelsea was scheduled to be induced later this week, but instead began to go into labor while out to dinner with family and friends on New Year’s Day.
Chelsea finished the meal, went home to Easton until the contractions were more frequent and came to TAMC at 1:30 a.m. It was at 8:18 a.m., shortly after hearing about the birth of the first baby born in the United States on the local news, that Chelsea gave birth to Maggie, who was delivered by TAMC Certified Nurse Midwife Nancy Escobar, MSN, CNM.
For Escobar and the entire TAMC Women and Children’s team, welcoming The County’s first baby of 2013 is a great way to start a new year that comes on the heels of a very exciting 2012 for the team. The Women and Children’s Unit was a key part of TAMC’s centennial celebration last year. In addition to delivering over 200 babies, the team celebrated the 100th baby born in TAMC’s 100th year — coincidentally on the Fourth of July — and had both a special Houlton Farms Dairy dish of ice cream and the TAMC Centennial Ball designated as special fundraisers for equipment for the unit. The unit also opened a new family suite in 2012 that provides a new level of care that is much more home-like for mothers, their newborns and the immediate family.
“We have an excellent team here at TAMC and the past year of celebration has reminded us all why we just love doing what we do. We not only have the pleasure of welcoming new lives into the world, but in many cases we see families get their start and watch them grow,” said Escobar. “Our team has provided pre-natal care and delivered all three of the Hopkins’ babies. So, as their extended family, we share in the joy of this new addition to our extended family.”
Maggie Ann Hopkins’ maternal grandparents are Jonathan and Sheila Carbone of Southington, Conn., and Brian and Lynn Flewelling of Easton. Her paternal grandparents are David and Charlotte Hopkins of Easton and Lee and Vicki Saucier of Easton.
