New Year's babies: Philly hospitals share photos of babies born as clock struck midnight

Name: Babies born on New Year's Day in Philly area
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T11:54:19-05:00
Description: As fireworks lit up the Ben Franklin Parkway and people across the country welcomed the New Year, many families were celebrating something even more special — the arrival of their newest baby!

Babies born on New Year's Day in Philly area

As fireworks lit up the Ben Franklin Parkway and people across the country welcomed the New Year, many families were celebrating something even more special — the arrival of their newest baby!

PHILADELPHIA - As the clock struck midnight in Philadelphia, life changed forever for moms and dads across the area who rang in the new year by welcoming their new bundles of joy.

New Year's Eve babies

What we know:

Little Henry Schamp may have been one of the only babies born right when the clock struck midnight.

Baby Henry with parents Sarah and Ryan. (Credit: Penn Medicine)

Doctors at Penn Medicine's Doylestown Hospital say parents Sarah and Paul welcomed Henry right as 2025 turned to 2026.

"When they all said, ‘Yep, you had the first baby of the new year,’ I still didn’t believe it," said proud mom Sarah Schamp. "It’s definitely a fun thing. It’ll be a nice little tradition."

For dad Ryan Schamp, the holiday now carries a whole new meaning.

"It changes your whole perspective on the holiday," Ryan said. "It’s usually about celebrating the end of the year, but now we’re celebrating a new life and an addition to our family."

Henry weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces and is already stealing hearts — especially from big sister Willow. Ryan says Willow eagerly jumped into her new role, helping with blankets and making sure Henry knew which things were hers and which were his.

This New Year’s celebration wasn’t exactly what the Schamps had planned. They arrived at Doylestown Hospital on December 30, and Sarah was in labor for 27 hours.

"It was a very long 27 hours," Sarah said. "Usually we do a nice dinner out or have family over — definitely not having babies."

Despite little sleep, the family says they wouldn’t change a thing.

"It’s been a whirlwind," Ryan said. "We’re running on a little bit of sleep, but he’s here, and it’s been a lot of fun."

Henry is one of several babies born across the Delaware Valley to kick off 2026.

In Pennington, New Jersey, Derek Kook-Miller — a "rainbow baby" — was born weeks early at 3:27 a.m. His arrival carries special meaning for parents Rhiannon and Jorden, who recently lost a baby shortly after birth.

"To ring in the new year, new chapter, new life — why not throw a new baby in there?" Rhiannon said. "It’s honestly indescribable. We didn’t expect it to happen this fast, and it makes it extra special."

In loving memory of the baby they lost, Rhiannon and Jorden donated books and blankets to Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell.

Now, they’re turning the page and celebrating a new chapter — and a very happy New Year.

Baby Ezekiel Hall was welcomed to the world just after midnight on New Year's Eve at Temple Women & Families Hospital. Doctors say little Ezkiel was born to mom Natalie Rivera at 12:10 a.m.