1st Bergen County Baby Of 2018 Born Just After Midnight

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The first baby born in Bergen County came a few days earlier than expected. Micayla Araujo was born at 12:03 a.m. Monday at the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, the hospital announced. She weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces and was 18 inches long.

"We're ecstatic that our daughter is the first baby to be born at Hackensack University Medical Center in 2018," said Araujo's mother Laimme Afonso. "I feel good and our baby is good. Micayla is the new light for the New Year. We feel very fortunate and are overjoyed that her birthday will always be so special."

Araujo was due to be born Jan. 8, but after Afonso's water broke at 4 a.m. Dec. 31, Afonso and Araujo's father, Manny Araujo, headed to the hospital. The Kearny family had planned to go to Freehold to visit family for New Year's Eve.

Attending physician Dr. Meryl Kahan delivered Araujo naturally.

"We are so proud of our new baby and the fact that she was born on New Year's Day," said Araujo. "It's a sign that good things will happen for her and this is definitely the best way to start the New Year."

Araujo is the first daughter of Araujo and Afonso. They have a 7-year-old son Jonathan.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photo: New parents Manny Araujo and Lainne Afonso hold their daughter Micayla, who was the first baby born in Bergen County, on Jan. 1, 2018.