By Holly Fesperman LeeSalisbury Post
Rowan County’s first baby of the new year came seven days early for third-time mother Eloisa Lopez Rubio.Doctors told Rubio that her baby would be born Jan. 8, but Daniela Nuńez didn’t want to wait.
Once Rubio got to Rowan Regional Medical Center around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, things went quickly. She gave birth to the 7-pound, 19-inch-long baby at 2:22 p.m.
Rubio, who speaks little English, said through a Spanish-speaking hospital interpreter that she felt the baby drop in her stomach significantly around 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
She and Sergio Nuńez, Daniela’s father, were having a New Year’s Eve party at their home. Nuńez told his wife that he hoped the baby would wait until after midnight so they could ring in the New Year with friends.
Rubio said she’s very happy to have the first baby of 2008.
The couple has two other children, 7-year-old Victor and 3-year-old Giselle, who was also born at Rowan Regional. Neither child was born on a holiday or at an unusual time.
Earlier on the day Daniela was born, Rubio said, “I had already had two very deep pains and I was waiting at home because I thought this wasn’t the real thing yet.”
But Sergio insisted she go to the hospital immediately.
Even after that, Rubio said, “I had to wait for him to take a shower and get ready before we came to the hospital.”
Rubio said she was glad to get the gifts Smart Start Rowan provided for the first baby of the New Year.
“It’s like a double whammy in a positive way, because you’re having your baby and getting gifts at the same time,” she said.
The basket of gifts was filled with gift certificates, toiletries, toys for the baby, earrings for mom, formula and books about Salisbury.
Mother and baby were scheduled to go home today. Rubio said having her daughter was a great way to start the new year.
Her only resolution was to be a better mother to her three children.
Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.