Hampton Roads hospitals welcome first babies of 2022

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Hospitals across Hampton Roads are welcoming the first babies of the New Year.

Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk welcomed the first baby born in Sentara's Hampton Roads hospitals in 2022.

Hannah Downey and her boyfriend Matthew Walston had their first child, Brixton Walston, at 12:25 a.m.

According to Sentara, Brixton is a "happy, healthy baby" weighing 7 pounds and 7 ounces.

News 3 spoke with Brixton's parents on their new bundle of joy. These parents were actually headed out to celebrate dad, Matthew Walston's birthday - which is on New Year's Eve.

"It was definitely a big surprise. We were just you know, regular day, driving to the birthday dinner, and all of a sudden, we had to do a full 180 on the interstate and go straight to the hospital, because it was baby time. We didn’t even make it to the restaurant,” new mother Hannah said.

Brixton's birth comes as COVID-19's omicron variant has surged in Hampton Roads and across the country, limiting visitors to welcome the new baby. But parents say that has its pros and cons.

“With everything going on, it actually kinda’ makes it easier with having the baby and trying to get used to everything, not having people coming in and out,” Hannah said.

Brixton's father says he seems like a happy little guy so far.

In Chesapeake, the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's BirthPlace delivered Macoy John Plageman at 1:53 a.m. He is the first baby born to Suffolk parents Katie and John Plageman.

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center said little Macoy weighed in at 6 pounds and 12 ounces.

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth posted their first baby born of the year on January 5. They said Grayson, was born at 9:19 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 1.