B.C.'s first baby delivered in Abbotsford

The beginning of 2009 was far from Navdeep Sandhu’s mind when her baby boy entered the world three minutes into the new year.

Since arriving at Abbotsford Regional Hospital a few hours earlier, the 21-year-old first-time mother had not been able to tell the baby’s father, who is waiting to immigrate to Canada from India, that she was in labour. She finally reached him by phone after the birth with the news that he has a son — and B.C.’s first baby of 2009.

Surrounded by her extended family as she showed off her baby in the hospital lobby Thursday afternoon, Sandhu became emotional when asked about her husband.

“I wish Immigration Canada will give him a visa as soon as possible,” she said in a soft voice.

But the new mother beamed when asked to recall the first time she saw her son.

“When they gave him [to me], they said to me, ‘You have a munda,’ ” she said. Although her doctor does not speak Punjabi, he used the word munda, which means boy in Sandhu’s first language. The mother was surprised.

It wasn’t until 1:30 a.m. that the family learned the six-pound-five-ounce boy was also B.C.’s New Year’s baby. Sandhu was not aware of the local tradition to honour the first baby born in the province each year.

Although she seemed taken aback by the attention yesterday, she happily showed reporters her son, who was wearing a white knit cap stitched with 2009.

Sandu will likely be released from hospital Friday, and the little boy will be named at a special naming ceremony at the Abbotsford Sikh temple.

Sandhu and her husband, Gurmukh Ghag, were married in December 2007 in India. She remained with him until April before returning to her family in Abbotsford. She does not know when Ghag will be able to join her.

Sandhu’s sister was with her in the delivery room when the baby was born. She will also care for the new mother until her husband arrives.

The New Year’s baby already has three young cousins, who were excited to meet him Thursday.

Cousin Jasleen said she was scared to hold the baby during the press conference, but had trouble taking her eyes off the little bundle, which was swaddled in a green cloth.

Sandhu will receive a package of gifts, including some clothes and information from Fraser Health, as well as a portrait session from the hospital foundation.

• According to Castanet.net, Kelowna's first baby of the new year was named after a Canucks legend. Linden Anthony Mitchell was born at Kelowna General Hospital at 6:42 a.m. to Laurie Tancek and Jeff Mitchell.

Mitchell told the media that the name — after retired Canuck Trevor Linden — is a "big hit" with friends.

Via © By Glenda Luymes, The Province