B.C.’s first baby of 2019 was almost named Q.
OK, perhaps “almost” is a stretch because the baby’s mom, Janet Shimizu, shut that one down pretty quickly when dad Lukasz Soswa suggested it.
Baby Dominik Soswa with tired parents Janet Shimizu and Lukasz Soswa.
More name suggestions followed until the Coquitlam couple settled on Dominik, who was born at 12:01 a.m. at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster on Jan. 1.
“Is it that horrible,” Lukasz asked with a laugh to the throng of media who showed up Tuesday to meet the exhausted family.
Dominik weighed in at eight pounds and just over two ounces. He was due on Jan. 1, but Janet went into labour at 8 a.m. on Monday. After painful labour all day, a decision was made to do an emergency C-section.
“He just stayed at five centimetres,” said Janet, who does web development for a private company.
“He arrived right on time,” said Lukasz, a Langley surgeon who actually did his training at RCH.
The couple found out that Dominik was B.C.’s first baby at around 1 a.m.
Lukasz said it was weird to walk into a hospital room and not be in charge. He was told he was going to be a dad and needed to just relax and leave it to the RCH experts.
“I’m just used to walking in there and ‘let’s go’,” he said with a laugh.
The couple said they have received a generous gift basket for being the first baby of 2019 in B.C.
Janet had kind words for the exceptional work of the RCH maternity staff.
“Everyone’s been so lovely,” she said.
So far, Dominik is sleeping well and has latched on nicely for breastfeeding.
As far as what happens when they finally get home, Janet has one goal.
“Sleep,” she said. “I just want to sleep.”
