Norway hospital delivers region’s first baby of 2004
By Mark LaFlamme
Staff Writer
NORWAY
The first baby born in Maine in 2004 was delivered at a Portland hospital early Thursday morning. But you can’t fault expectant mothers at Stephens Memorial Hospital for lack of trying.

By the end of the day Thursday, three babies were born at the Norway hospital. And 20-year-old Monica Smith of Norway had the distinction of delivering the first baby in western Maine.

“He came out crying and he’s beautiful,” Smith said. “He’s very healthy, that’s for sure. That’s all that really matters.”

Smith gave birth to Derek Timothy Paine at 10:07 a.m. New Year’s Day at Stephens Memorial. It was her second child. Smith also has a 3-year-old son named Logan.

Derek was delivered Thursday more than nine hours after the official New Year’s baby was born at Mercy Hospital in Portland.

In her hospital room Thursday night, Smith was not bemoaning the fact that she missed delivering the year’s first baby by mere hours. In fact, during her labor, she was not really aware of the date at all.

“I just wanted him out. I really didn’t care when it happened,” Smith said.

Derek, the son of Smith and Tommy Timothy Paine, weighed in at a respectable 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He was measured at 21 inches.

Smith went to Stephens Memorial about 1:15 Thursday morning, suffering what felt like labor pains. She was sent home but returned to the hospital at 6:15 a.m. It was the real deal. Smith was going into labor. In less than four hours, Derek had come into the world.

“He was ready and he wanted out,” Smith said.

A couple hours later, at 12:32 p.m., a girl was born at Stephens Memorial. Another boy was delivered there at 4:49 p.m..

Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, both in Lewiston, reported a baby-less New Year’s Day.

At Bridgton Hospital, a boy was born at 10:48 a.m. while Rumford Hospital delivered a boy at 1:28 p.m.

Officially, a couple from Gray are the parents of the first baby born in Maine in 2004.

Meagan Provost gave birth to Cameron Jane Provost at 12:57 Thursday morning at Mercy Hospital in Portland. Cameron weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and is 19 inches long.

Cameron was actually due Dec. 28 but arrived on New Year’s day to surprise her parents. Meagan Provost and her husband, Jon, are also the parents of a 7-year-old daughter, Taylor.

At Stephens Memorial Thursday night, Monica Smith was wearing down. It had been a long day – a long couple of days, in fact. Smith had been awake since 7 a.m. Wednesday.

“They’re bringing us dinner pretty soon,” she said. “After that, I’m going to bed.”

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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