Margaret Cano is NY baby

MarPac surprises parents Dave Cano, far right, and Joanna Cano, third from the right, yesterday with a one-month supply of diapers, infant formula, and more in honor of the birth of the first baby of the decade, Margaret Cano. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Couple Dave and Joanna Cano rang in the new decade with a new bundle of joy, Margaret Cano, who is the Commonwealth’s first baby of the year.

Margaret Cano, the fourth child of Dave and Joanna, was born at exactly 12:37pm on Jan. 1 and weighed in at 4 lbs and 14 ounces. She was one of two babies born on New Year’s Day.

Dave said he was amazed to learn that the New Year’s baby is significant in the CNMI and was proud to learn that that their new addition to the family is the 2020 New Year’s baby.

“We’re amazed and we’re proud. All that matters is that our baby girl is healthy and normal and my wife is okay,” he said.

Although it was a joyous moment for the Cano family to welcome a new life into the world, the labor was nearly unbearable, with Joanna having to go into labor two weeks earlier than expected, lasting about 14 hours.

“We came in around 8 in the morning of Dec. 31 and she gave birth at around 12pm on New Year’s Day,” said Dave.

Joanna explained that she developed diabetes during her pregnancy with Margaret Cano, her first time to have that since giving birth to her first three children, so doctors had to monitor her blood sugar level. Had it been too high, she would have to undergo a caesarian section.

Her diabetes was also the reason for her earlier delivery. Joanna said that she was due Jan. 15 but was told to come in on Dec. 31 to monitor her blood sugar.

During her checkup, doctors found that Margaret Cano was facing sideways within the womb and had to be repositioned correctly, in preparation for her birth. Doctors later informed Joanna that once the baby was in position, she would have to go into labor and delivery.

Dave and Joanna have two other daughters and one son. Their eldest daughter is 9 years old, followed by their son who is 7, and their third child who is 2 years old.

Rhonda DiCostanzo, a certified nurse midwife practitioner and the one assigned to Margaret Cano, confirmed the long labor but said the delivery was quick.

“She was in labor for quite a while but when she was ready to give birth, she delivered very quickly [that] I barely had any time to get my gloves on and she delivered at 12:37pm. Baby is doing really well and the mom was a pro; this was her fourth baby. I was just happy to be there,” she said.
DiCostanzo said it was very exciting to welcome the first baby of the decade.

“First baby of the decade, very exciting, we’re very happy to welcome the little girl into the world,” she said.

As has become tradition, representatives from MarPac came in yesterday to visit Margaret Cano and her parents, bearing a one-month supply of newborn baby supplies.

According to Thomas Babauta-Basa, MarPac consumer manager, MarPac provided about a months’ supply of Enfamil infant formula, diapers, Kotex pads, bags, and baby wipes.

“We would just like to congratulate the new parents. Since 2013, when we started the baby New Year, the first baby that is born in the new year, we provide gifts for both the mom and the baby. We do so as a means to give back to our community,” he said.