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STAFF REPORT

Mega­n Palomo and fiancé Jesse Rivera were not expecting to ring in the New Year with the birth of their child. The baby had other plans.

Janiyah Angel Rivera

Arriving a month premature at 1:51 a.m. Jan. 1, Janiyah Angel Rivera was the first baby born in Hays County in 2013. She is currently in Central Texas Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and is scheduled to go home next week.

Palomo went for a check-up on Dec. 31 and her physician ordered an emergency Caeserean section, performed at CTMC’s Women’s Center by obstetrician/gynecologist Jenifer Kowalik.

“That’s something she’ll be able to remember for the rest of her life,” Palomo said.

Palomo, who attended San Marcos High School, said she is looking forward to Janiyah being “mommy’s girl.” Palomo will be a stay-at-home mom and Rivera plans to enlist in the U.S. Army. Currently, he is employed at Pluckers Wing Bar in San Marcos.

“We named our daughter Janiyah because it means God’s gift in Hebrew. This is a new year with new beginnings. I’m looking forward to giving my daughter advice and helping her with cuts and bruises and sharing memories and laughter,” Rivera said.

In 2012, the CTMC Women’s Center delivered 999 babies.

UPDATED 01/02/12: A Central Texas Medical Center spokesperson says 999 babies were born at the hospital last year, two more than previously recorded.