Proud mothers from around the world show off their New Year’s arrivals as UNICEF celebrates the 400,000 babies born on January 1st

UNICEF says 395,072 babies were born across the globe on New Year’s Day
The organisation has pictured 12 babies born in 10 countries on January 1
India and China welcomed the most children on New Year’s Day
Some mothers are feeling anxiety as well as joy as babies face uncertain future

While some were ringing in the New Year watching the Fireworks, tucking into a tasty meal with loved ones or partying the night away with friends, others were welcoming newborns into the world when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.

UNICEF has estimated 395,072 babies were born across the globe on January 1, 2019.

To celebrate the organisation have launched an adorable campaign, which saw them photograph 10 newborn babies born in 10 different time zones.

However, some mothers who gave birth in countries such as Haiti and Palestine admit their joy is mixed with anxiety with their babies facing an uncertain future.

In China newborn baby girl Li Xin Yao was born around 10.19 am on New Year’s Day at the Beijing United Family Hospital weighing 3.57kg at birth after being born by caesarian section. Mother Xu Hui hopes her second child will have a ‘peaceful and healthy life’

26-year-old mother Sara (right) and father Prilvo (left) welcomed their baby girl into the world in Haiti on the very first day of 2019 weighing 2.250kg. Sara said ‘I feel good now, I feel good, before that I had unbearable pain. Regarding the future of my daughter, only God knows what it will be done. I pray first of all for her to be healthy’

According to the organisation the majority of babies born were in India and China, with 69,944 and 44,940 little ones being welcomed into the world respectively.

In America over 11,000 newborns were born, with 317 tiny tots welcomed into the world in New York, while Sydney greeted 168 babies.

UNICEF have also interviewed mothers from Australia, China, India, Fiji, Nigeria, as well as Ukraine and other countries in a bid to celebrate the new births but also raise awareness of some difficult circumstances children are born into.

Sara is worried for her baby’s future after giving birth to her child in Palestine on New Year’s Day. Mohammed was born to Samia and father Moamen at 7:30 am, weighing 3.8kg

Salimata, from the Ivory Coast, gave birth to her newborn baby girl at 6.38 am at the Hopital General de Port-Bouet in Abidjan and is overjoyed by her new arrival who weighs 3.4kg and measures 50cm long. She said: ‘It’s a joy for me to have a fourth child, I feel great, and imagine a better world for her’

Kavita, 30, from India with her newborn baby girl weighing 2.8 kgs. She was born through a normal delivery at 4:14 am at the Lady Harding Medical College in New Delhi and is the proud mother’s first child.

Lilian welcomed her little bundle of joy, Lincoln, into the world in Australia’s Canberra Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Lincoln was born at 4:06pm and weighed 4.354kg

UNICEF has photographed 12 babies from 10 different countries to celebrate the thousands of children born on New Year’s Day, including this little girl born at Hopital General de Port-Bouet in Abidjan

Daurice, from the Ivory Coast, beamed with joy when she gave birth to her third child at the Hopital General de Port-Bouet in Abidjant at 3:57am, measuring 48cm

Sara, 26 from Haiti, admitted though her childbirth was painful, she is feeling ‘good’.

She said: ‘I feel good now, I feel good, before that I had unbearable pain. Regarding the future of my daughter, only God knows what it will be done. I pray first of all for her to be healthy.’

Mother Samia, from Palestine, feels bitter sweet after giving birth as she is ‘happy’ but also ‘worried’ for her child’s future. She said: ‘Nothing can describe how happy I am but I’m worried about my baby’s future.’

Mother Lilit, from Spain, craddles her baby daughter Sofia in her arms after giving birth to Sofia at Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital at 2:14pm weighing 3.7kg

Spanish mother Lilit has high hopes for her daughter’s future. Speaking after the birth of her baby, she said: ‘I feel great. I hope Sofia will have success and a really good person’

The organisation have estimated one million babies sadly died the day they were born in 2017, and in some cases the causes were preventable. For some mothers infections contracted, such as sepsis or pneumonia, as well as premature birth and complications during the delivery led to the loss of their baby.

However, UNICEF want to work to lower this rate, especially with their Every Child Alive campaign, which will help provide good quality health care to mothers and their newborns.

Speaking about the campaign UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, said: ‘This New Year Day, let’s all make a resolution to fulfill every right of every child, starting with the right to survive.’

Baby Julia da Silva Reis was born just one minute after midnight in Brazil on New Year’s Day by C-section weighing 3.85kg

Kavita, from India, is very excited to take her bundle of joy home after giving birth to her first child at the Lady Harding Medical College in New Delhi at 4.14am on New Year’s Day, weighing 2.8 kgs

‘We can save millions of babies if we invest in training and equipping local health workers so that every newborn is born into a safe pair of hands.’

2019 will see UNICEF launch even more emotive campaigns.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to commemorate the three decades the organisation plan to hold a string of worldwide events over the next 12 months.

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