Joy for parents as they ring in the New Year with a baby

Born at 6.48am at the Royal Free on New Year's Day. Amy Venegoni with mother Christina Straccia. Picture: Polly Hancock

Rachael Getzels, Reporter Wednesday, January 2, 2013
11:58 AM

Seven babies were welcomed in to the world on New Year’s Day at the Whittington Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

Born at 2.51am at the Royal Free on New Year's Day, a girl weighing 2.774kgs with father Sayed Shahrestani. Picture: Polly Hancock

The first baby of 2013 was born at the Royal Free in Pond Street at 2.51am to parents Sayed Sharestani and Zahra Al-Musawi.

The couple have not yet decided on a name but her father proudly cradled his new daugther wrapped in pink, as he grinned at the camera with joy.

Later that morning parents Christina Straccia and Tommaso Venegoni greeted their new baby girl Amy, who was born at 6.48am, with tears of happiness.

Mr Venegoni said: “She is really beautiful.

Born at 7.14am at the Whittington Hospital on new Years Day. Baby boy Diyako Akbari (3.3kgs) with mother Fang Fang Hu. Picture: Polly Hancock

“I didn’t realise how defined she would be.

“I spent the whole time with Christina and I saw every step.

“When the baby started coming out I cried.

“I wasn’t expecting that.”

Mr Venegoni, 31, has been engaged to Miss Straccia, 28, for five years.

The couple who are originally from Italy said they have a big decision ahead of them this year.

“We are thinking of going back.

“We want to get married and it would be much easier there because of all our family.

“Christina has two sisters who live together in a big house in the country with beautiful grounds and olive fields.”

Maternity matron at the Royal Free, Ruth Akoto-Appiah said: “We had four babies born on New Year’s Day which is in line with the number we have seen in previous years.

“It’s always a special moment bringing a baby into the world and it’s a lovely start to the year for the parents.”

Over at the Whittington Hospital in Magdala Avenue, the first baby of the year was a boy.

Diyako Akbari was welcomed in to the world by his parents, Ali Akbari, 41 and Fang-Fang Hu, 33, at 7.14am.

His father Mr Akbari, who is originally from Iran, said: “We chose the name Diyako because he was a Persian King. It’s a very old name and there aren’t many people with it in this generation.”

The couple who have been together for 10 years and married last year live in Girdlestone Walk in Archway and Diyako is their first child.