Melody Kinser
Cayden Starr Hamp arrived at 12:15 a.m. Jan. 1 to become Hanover County’s New Year’s baby. She was born at Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville. Her parents, Laura Hall and William Hamp of Doswell, enjoy some time with their new daughter later that morning.
Hanover County's first baby of 2009 arrived 15 minutes into the new year.
Published: January 07, 2009
Melody Kinser
Cayden Starr Hamp arrived much earlier than expected, but her debut at 12:15 a.m. Jan. 1 gave her the distinction of being the New Year’s baby at Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville.
Her parents, Laura Hall and William Hamp of Doswell, were energetic and enthusiastic about 10 hours after their daughter was welcomed to 2009.
Weighing in at 4 pounds and 10.6 ounces, Cayden, who was being called Starr by her parents on Thursday, was 17 1/2 inches in length at birth.
Much to their surprise, Laura was further along in her pregnancy than she had been told. The baby was premature, anywhere from two and half to three months early, but Laura thought she was only in her first trimester, when in fact she was in her second.
A couple of days after Halloween Laura was told that she was five weeks pregnant. She thought she was three months pregnant, when she was actually in her sixth month. She had been advised her due date would be June 14.
“This really caught us by surprise,“ said William.
On Friday, Dec. 26, her water broke and her mother, Anita Pike of Studley Road, Mechanicsville, took her to Memorial Regional. She was admitted for observation to monitor her status as well as her baby’s. It was on Dec. 29 that Laura learned “it was a little girl.“
There was concern for the baby’s lungs, so Laura received injections to strengthen the baby’s respiratory system.
Around noon on Dec. 31, Laura went into labor. Twelve hours later, she was delivering Cayden Starr.
The morning of her birth, Cayden Starr was “in a normal little bed” and “extremely healthy,“ her mother said. Since she was premature, she was receiving nourishment from feeding tubes as she adjusted to the eating process.
“She’s beautiful—like her mommy,“ a proud William said looking at his soon-to-be wife. “I proposed to her last night right after she gave birth.“
Since they thought they had several months before the baby would join the family, Laura and William had planned to travel to Los Angeles, Calif., with their friend, Christopher Smitherman, and then head to Las Vegas to exchange wedding vows.
Cayden Starr’s early arrival also has found her parents scurrying to get her home ready. “I haven’t even bought socks,“ Laura said.
Again, they believed they had plenty of time for baby showers and fixing up a nursery.
Family and friends had been calling the new parents offering clothes and miscellaneous items for the newborn.
Also welcoming Cayden Starr is William’s daughter, Madilyn Elizabeth, who is 2 years old.
Before heading to the special needs area where their daughter was under the watchful eye of nurses, William praised their efforts. “All the nurses here were great” in terms of checking on Laura’s needs. “They really made it feel like home; that eased up the situation.“
“I’m pretty much terrified of hospitals,“ Laura said. “They [the nurses] made it more comfortable.“
“We’ve had a lot of support,“ William said, as Laura piped in, “My stepdad Darrell has been really good.“
The new mom and dad could only smile and coo as they held their daughter who briefly opened her eyes as if to say hello to her parents and the world she just joined.
