A Toms River Mom Describes her Baby’s Arrival on New Year’s Eve as an “Incredible Gift.”
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January 1, 2022A Toms River Mom Describes her Baby’s Arrival on New Year’s Eve as an “Incredible Gift.”
Savannah Marie Cherry, the last baby born at Community Medical Center in 2021, arrived at 11:25 p.m. on New Year's Eve. (From Community Medical Center's Stephani Reynolds)
Caitlyn Cherry Hasn't Had a Reason to Celebrate New Year's for Years...Until Now!
Caitlyn Cherry hasn't had a reason to celebrate New Year's for years.
The 30-year-old Toms River resident had previously skipped the holiday; this year, she planned to work on New Year's Eve. That is, until she was in labor and ended up in the maternity ward at Community Medical Center in Toms River. Savannah Marie, the last baby born at Community Medical Center in 2021, arrived at 11:25 p.m. on Friday. Caitlyn's mother, Jeanne, died 15 years ago, and she arrived on the 15th anniversary of her death. Caitlyn remarked Saturday from her hospital room, "It's an incredible gift that she was born on New Year's Eve." "It's a blessing."Savannah wasn't slated to arrive for another few weeks, according to Caitlyn. Her due date was Jan. 20, but they had intended to induce labor on Jan. 14 because her obstetrician was concerned about the volume of amniotic fluid, she claimed.
Caitlyn said the induction was bumped up to Thursday night after her weekly exam revealed a substantial drop in amniotic fluid levels. Her labor took more than 24 hours to progress. Caitlyn was instructed by the doctor who gave her the anesthetic that when she felt pressure, it was time to push to deliver the baby. Caitlyn said she felt light pressure with less than an hour till the ball dropped in Times Square, so they checked to see how much progress had been made.Caitlyn was ready to deliver and Savannah was born after only 10 minutes of pushing.
Caitlyn revealed that the 6-pound, 18 1/2 inch baby bears her grandmother's middle name. She also harbors aspirations for a tight relationship with her daughter similar to the one she had with her own mother. The loss of her mom was devastating to Caitlyn. She was diagnosed with cancer in October 2006, and it was already advanced at the time. On New Year's Eve, her mother passed away, leaving behind Caitlyn, three boys, and her husband, Ron. She was 48 years old at the time. Caitlyn, who was 15 at the time, said, "She was my best friend."Caitlyn, a residential counselor and assistant manager at Preferred Behavioral Health, said the current pandemic-related hospital visitation restrictions have limited the number of people who may accompany her to the hospital. Savannah's labor was aided by a close friend and a doula, although her family had not yet met Savannah.
"My dad is excited to meet her," Caitlyn added, adding that she had known she was having a daughter since she was 12 weeks pregnant. "Through it all, he's been my rock." "If she had waited half an hour she would have been born on New Year's" Caitlyn said. "But it's a blessing she arrived on New Year's Eve" "It's an incredible gift," she said.
