01 January 2022, Apia Samoa. Samoa’s first baby of 2022 was born to Avea Faasavali and Ioane Lauese from Tulaele and Falevao.
A baby girl, just over 3 kilos (just under 7 pounds) was born at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Motootua National Hospital at 12:30am this morning.
Baby Petina was delivered by Senior Midwife RM Seuila Ale with her assistant, RM Faaleaga Mapu.
Reporting from the maternity ward is RN Tiara Tuulua, a Senior Midwife who has delivered Samoa’s first baby of the year for the past seven years, since 2015.
“Mother and baby are both well. The proud parents are thrilled with the arrival of their third born child,” said RM Tiara Tuulua in response to questions from Samoa Global News.
According to RM Tuulua, mom endured a six hour laour, but stayed home for most of it.
“They arrived to the maternity ward just in time to deliver baby.. it was perfect timing,” she shares.
Baby Petina could possibly be the world’s first born baby for 2022 – if Tonga or Kiribati do not register birthtimes before Samoa’s 12:30am. With its repositioning of the international dateline, Samoa is one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Year.
UNICEF estimates over 370,000 babies will be born around the world on the 1st of January 2022.
The team on duty at the TTM Hospital’s maternity ward or Potu Fanau would like to wish all of Samoa, a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
