The twin boys are the first New Year's babies for the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre, arriving on Jan. 2 to proud parents Nancy and Craig Blagdon.
Wyatt was the first to arrive, at 11:23 p.m., followed by Gabriel at 11:25 p.m., with no complications.
It's not the Blagdons' first; the twins have a big brother to welcome them at home, three-year-old Brody.
"I don't think he knows what to make of it all," said Craig.
Attending physicians were obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Steve Parsons and pediatrician Dr. Mei, who were both delighted with their new little patients.
Dr. Parsons played a role in making sure both babies have car seats; the seats were donated by Wal-Mart.
"They donate a seat to the first baby of the year, but when I explained there were twins, they quickly provided another one as well," he said.
Retailers in various communities, including Wal-Mart, have been donating car seats for years for the first babies born in their communities.
It is part of an initiative spearheaded by the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, which has been involved for more than 20 years in presenting an infant car seats to the first baby born in the New Year in each of the province's 12 hospitals that perform deliveries.
They donate a seat to the first baby of the year, but when I explained there were twins, they quickly provided another one as well." - Dr. Steve Parsons
According to NLMA president Dr. Patrick O'Shea, the intent of the car seat program is to encourage all parents to use approved car seats for their children right from the moment they leave the hospital as newborns. To date, more than 280 car seats have been presented to families for their newborn babies.
"The proper use of child safety seats, from the first ride home from the hospital until the child is big enough to use a regular seatbelt, has been proven to be one of the most successful safety innovations for motor vehicles," said Dr. O'Shea.
More than 70 kids are seriously injured in this province every year in motor vehicle accidents. In the 2005, the NLMA called on the province to change the legislation to upgrade child booster legislation; three years later government amended the legislation.
It now requires that all children be in a booster seat while they are being transported in a car, passenger truck, taxi, school contract vehicles and vehicles used by day care centres.
