Weighing 4 lbs. and 14 ounces, Margarette is the fourth child of her parents Joanne and David Cano.
Mrs. Cano said they named their fourth baby after her sister Margarette who succumbed to ovarian cancer last year.
On Dec. 31, at 8 a.m., Mrs. Cano was admitted to the Commonwealth Health Center. Mr. Cano said the baby was in the breech position, so a midwife had to gently turn the baby to the cephalic or head-first position.
“The doctor then said she was ready to give birth,” he added.
Certified nurse/midwife Rhonda di Costanzo said the mother was in labor for more than 19 hours.
Di Costanzo said the baby was delivered at 12:37 p.m. on Jan. 1. “We are very happy to welcome her to the world. The baby is healthy,” she added.
Marpac staff members visit the New Year baby, Margarette Cano, and her parents on Thursday at the hospital. In photo are baby Margarette, her parents Joanne and David Cano, Marpac staff members Eugene Mendez, Chris Nunez, Bradley Babauta, Tom Basa, and Francisco Macaranas. Photo by Lori Lyn C. Lirio
“Back in the Philippines,” Mr. Cano said, “fathers were not allowed in the delivery room, so it was my first time to be with my wife while she was giving birth.”
He said they intend to use birth control. “I don’t want to see my wife go through the same ordeal again. It was an eye-opener for me.”
He and his family arrived on Saipan on Dec. 25, 2018. He currently works at Seafix Incorporated.
On Thursday, Marpac staff members brought gifts to the New Year baby.
“For the first baby born in the New Year, we provide gifts for the mom and the infant — it is our way of giving back to the community,” Marpac consumer manager Tom Basa said.
Marpac has been providing gifts to New Year babies and their mothers since 2013.
Mrs. Cano and her baby received boxes of diapers, sanitary pads, infant formula, baby wipes, and bags from Marpac.
“We are very grateful to Marpac for the gifts,” Mr. Cano said.
