UAE mothers’ joy after delivering babies on first day of Eid

As the UAE marked Eid Al Fitr, new mothers welcomed their newborns at Abu Dhabi's busiest maternity hospital.

Lucian Zimmerspitz of Brazil gave birth to 3.8kg Kian at 1.40am, the second to be born this Eid, at Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // Kian Zimmerspitz breathes a contended sigh as he cuddles closer to his proud mother.

Wrapped tightly in a blue blanket with a white cap perched on his head, the newborn seems unaware of the gruelling labour he put his mother through before he became the second baby to be born at Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Hospital on Eid Al Fitr.

“He was hard work, but worth it,” said his mother, Luciana Zimmerspitz, 35, a Brazilian who lives in Abu Dhabi.

Born at 1.40am, he was pipped to the post as the first Eid baby by exactly one minute.

Despite experiencing pains 17 hours before Kian arrived, weighing 3.8 kilograms, his mother could not be happier.

“I started experiencing pains around 9am [on Sunday],” said Ms Zimmerspitz. “The strongest contractions were about 4pm. By 11pm I went to hospital.

“I have not slept yet. Since he was born, he has been feeding, feeding, feeding.”

The mother-of-three, who had a natural delivery, said Kian’s elder brother and sister were excited by the new arrival.

“Everyone is so excited in the house, even my dog,” she said. “They are all waiting for him.

“I just hope he can make the healing for peace that this world is needing.”

Ms Zimmerspitz said she had been worried that, with it being Eid, fewer staff may have been working at the hospital. However, she said the medical staff helped make the birth as easy as possible.

By 6am, six babies had been born at Corniche Hospital, the UAE’s busiest maternity ward.

They made their arrival at 1.39am, 1.40am, 2.39am, 2.50am, 5.06am and 5.20am.

Hesna Al Hammadi was one of the first Emiratis to be born on Monday.

Making her entrance at 5.06am, she weighed 3.5 kilograms.

It is the second daughter for mother-of-two Maryam Al Hammadi, 28.

“Copy and paste,” she said, with a smile.

Having had her first daughter, now age two, by Caesarean, Ms Al Hammadi said she was determined to have a natural birth.

Despite a long labour, it was worth it, said Ms Al Hammadi, who is already planning more babies.

“I am very happy,” she said.

Gazing at her dozing daughter, wrapped tightly in a pink blanket and striped hat, Ms Al Hammadi said Hesna’s birthday made her arrival even more special.

Hesna arrived a week early, surprising everyone in the family, she said.

“It is like I have two Eids,” said Ms Al Hammadi. “It is a special day.”

Two floors down in the hospital, Filipina Claribell Ortega’s newborn son shares that special birthday.

Born at 2.50am weighing a healthy 3.5 kilograms, he is the fourth child, but first son, for his proud mother.

She had a quicker labour than some other mums.

“It was very quick. Less than an hour,” she said.

Yet to be named, the newborn, emits a tiny yawn, drawing a smile from his mother, who lives in the Tourist Club area.

“He is an Eid baby – a gift,” she said.

Ms Ortega said she was waiting for her husband, a Palestinian interior designer, to help choose a name for their son.

Three of the babies born by 11am on Monday were born premature and taken to the intensive-care unit.

More babies were expected by the end of Monday. And to mark the special day, each mother was presented with two roses, boxes of chocolates and a pack of new clothes for their newborn.