Marin’s first baby of the year was an 8-pound, 4-ounce girl, according to MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae.
Maria Eva was born at 4:48 a.m. Thursday to parents Barbara Campos and Caio Silva of Larkspur, the hospital said.
“Our baby surprised us by coming so quickly on New Year’s Day,” Silva said in a statement released by the hospital. “Everything has been amazing, from the nurses to the doctors. Everyone treated us with such kindness the moment we arrived.”
The newborn has a 2-year-old brother, Joao Pedro, who was also born at the hospital.
“Being cared for by many of the same nurses who delivered our son two years ago right here at MarinHealth made it feel even more special, like being welcomed back by family,” Silva said.
Deanna Williams, the birth center director, said it delivered more than 1,500 babies last year compared to about 1,400 babies in 2024.
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, new residents came in quick succession on New Year’s Day, with two babies born at Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center at 12:03 a.m. and 12:07 a.m.
The next baby came at 12:11 a.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, followed by a newborn at 12:29 a.m. at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center.
At the Redwood City hospital, San Jose resident Marlowe Hatchett and her husband Isaiah Andrews said they were almost certain that their daughter Iyla Marie Andrews would be born before midnight.
But after 22 hours of labor and midnight fast approaching, Hatchett realized that Iyla would instead make an entrance in 2026. She was 6 pounds, 13 ounces.
“It was an indescribable feeling, just immediate love and excitement on what’s to come on the journey of parenthood,” Hatchett said. “And also just being able to see my husband’s excitement, it was just as incredible.”
And at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 in the South Bay, San Jose residents Barishma and Devajit Asem sought the delivery room at Good Samaritan Hospital and waited as the minutes turned into hours, and the day turned into a new year. Their baby boy Wangthoi – a name meaning high, victorious and successful – weighed 8 pounds, 7.5 ounces.
“Welcoming the first baby of the New Year is always a special moment,” said Patrick Rohan, chief executive officer of Good Samaritan. “It’s a joyful way to start 2026, and we’re honored to be part of this family’s story.”
Recounting the birth, Devajit Asem said he stared at a clock in the emergency room as the hours ticked by, which only added to the suspense. When Wangthoi was born and he held his son for the first time, he said, he realized the magnitude of the vast new responsibilities as a father.
“As a dad, as a parent, it’s a life-changing moment, and we are so in love with our big baby,” he said. “I don’t know how to express it … It’s a person.”
“I’m excited about what the future holds for us, and also we love our baby boy. So yeah, we’re definitely looking forward to the journey ahead,” he said. “We felt like we accomplished something, being able to deliver this baby boy on the first day of 2026.”
Bay Area News Group contributed to this report.