Aubree Loree Rideout wasn’t expected to make her much-anticipated arrival until Jan. 20. But the baby girl of Rebecca Ascani and Mitchell Rideout of Dublin just couldn’t wait that long. Aubree was the first baby born at Monadnock Community Hospital in 2021, entering the world at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 via cesarean section. Weighing in at seven lbs., two oz. and 17.5 inches in length, Ascani said Aubree is happy and healthy.
Ascani said she had an inclination on New Year’s Eve that her daughter would be coming early.
“We were watching the ball drop and all of a sudden my stomach started to feel tight,” Ascani said.
For the rest of the night she didn’t get much sleep. “I had a feeling,” she said.
Then early on New Year’s Day, it was a mad dash from their home in Dublin to MCH. Once they arrived they barely had time to fill out the paperwork before heading to the operating room for the cesarean.
“It was so quick, like 45 minutes after we got here,” Ascani said on Saturday, less than 24 hours after Aubree was born. She added that she had recently switched providers and was supposed to have her second visit in Milford on Jan. 1, but instead found herself having her second baby.
“I’m having my alarm going off for my appointment as I’m getting a C-section,” she said.
Luckily for the expecting parents, Ascani’s mom was at their house to take care of her 2 ½-year-old son Vincent. Ascani said she expected for Aubree to come late, like her older brother did at 41 weeks.
“But this was completely opposite,” Ascani said. And that can be said about the entirety of her pregnancy. Because of COVID-19 precautions, Mitchell Rideout wasn’t allowed to accompany Ascani to her any of her doctor visits or ultrasounds. Instead, the “first time he got to be involved” was during Aubree’s birth on Jan. 1.
“It was pretty frustrating,” Ascani said, but added that she understood the need for providers to be cautious.
Ascani said Aubree slept well the first night – pretty much the only thing she did for her first 24 hours.
“She’s doing so good,” Ascani said. “She’s such a good baby.”
Because Aubree was a few weeks early and Ascani had a c-section, she said they would be in the hospital for a total of three days. It’s hard because of COVID-19 guidelines they can’t bring Vincent in to meet his new baby sister.
“This is the longest I’ve been away from him,” Ascani said. “And I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
As for Aubree, Ascani sees her being the first baby born in 2021 as a cool story that she can share during show and tell at school one day.
“That’s exactly how I picture it, her bringing in the newspaper to show her class,” Ascani said. “I’m so excited for her.”