Welcome Gideon, our first baby of 2024

Max, Aiden and Georgia Ria, with new arrival Gideon, who has the distinction now of being the district’s first baby born in 2024. He arrived at 10.26pm on January 2 weighing 10.4lbs, 4.65kgs. Picture by Paul Rickard

Georgia Ria had the home birth she had always wanted on Wednesday when baby Gideon Ria entered the world at 10.26pm — the first baby to be born in Gisborne in 2024.

“I had always wanted a home birth but was always nervous that something could go wrong,” Georgia says.

She started getting mild contractions in the morning but still managed an outing with friends before deciding she was definitely in labour and made plans to drive into town to her mum and dad’s house.

She met her midwife there and began labouring on the lounge floor.

Her waters broke shortly after and she felt the need to push.

“I definitely didn’t want to go to the hospital at this point; I was in too much pain and needed to push. My midwife, mum and husband were all so encouraging. Dad was there, too, but not in view and it was just such a positive environment to give birth in.”

Two hours later Gideon was born and after getting cleaned up ,Georgia was able to start breastfeeding him straight away.

Gideon joins his big brother Max who turns two on January 12.

Gideon was due on January 8, which means his dad Aiden will get extra time at home with him as he is on holiday and hadn’t expected to take his paternity leave for another week.

The family celebrated with McFlurrys from McDonald’s, something Georgia had been craving throughout the pregnancy but hadn’t been able to eat.