IE's 1st Babies Of 2024: Murrieta, Menifee Families Welcome Newborns

MURRIETA, CA — Each year, maternity wards across the nation wonder who will be the first baby born on New Year's Day. Early Monday, on New Year's Day 2024, the Inland Empire may have a run on the first baby of the brand new year.

In Murrieta, at Rancho Springs Hospital, 12 families were contending for the title "First Baby of the Year," according to hospital spokesperson Brian Connors.

Parents Lucero and Antonio's baby girl Dahlia appeared at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day. According to Connors, 12 babies were born that day, but Dahlia was the official First Baby of 2024 at the Murrieta hospital.

"Cheers to a year filled with warm snuggles, baby giggles, and family joy," he said.

Elsewhere in the Inland Empire, Loma Linda hospitals were also waiting to see who would be born first, accoridng to a statement from Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

"Baby girl Dove marked her entry into the world at 2:09 a.m., becoming the first newborn of the year at the hospital's San Manuel Maternity Pavilion," according to a spokesperson for the children's hospital.

She weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces, they said.

"Dove's parents, Lauren Nguyen and Omid Zebarjadi of Menifee expressed their excitement and gratitude to the hospital staff for their care and support," they said. "Dove is welcomed into the family by her older sister, Ocean, who is thrilled to have a new sibling."

Another family at Loma Linda University Medical Center–Murrieta shared the joy on the same day. Baby Jesse was born at 10:11 a.m. to parents Jerilynn Bloom and Julian Frijas.

Jesse weighed 9 pounds upon arrival.

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Loma Linda University Medical Center–Murrieta were recognized as part of the U.S. News & World Report's 2024 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care.

To learn more about the hospital's maternity care program, visit online.