Although 9-year-old David Price’s presents included a Nintendo 3DS and a toy helicopter, his best Christmas gift was his newborn brother.
Blake Price was born at 9:51 p.m. Dec. 25 in Silverdale at Harrison Medical Center. The 8 pound 13 ounce baby was one of two born Christmas Day in Silverdale.
Brittany Price, the mother of now four children, said there was never a plan to have her baby on Christmas since she was scheduled to have a Caesarean section Dec. 28 due to the baby breaching.
But, the Christmas Day birth of her fourth — and last — child was a special gift.
“You’re always with family and friends on Christmas,” she said. “He’ll always be with loved ones on his birthday.”
Price, 28, and her three children and husband, Billy, had returned to their Port Orchard home for the night after visiting with other family members in Kitsap County for the holiday. Her mother lives nearby in Port Orchard and Billy’s grandparents live in Seabeck. She thought she was coming home to a relaxing evening. However, as they were unloading belongings out of the car, she stood up and her water broke.
The delivery was “easier” since it was a C-section and it wasn’t her first time, Price said. Aside from David who was born on his expected due date, the Price couple has 5-year-old Connor who was born a month before his due date and 2-year-old Brooklyn who was also delivered via C-section.
Lori Ludlow, interim nurse manager at Harrison’s Silverdale site, said that any time of the year is a joyful and happy occasion to give birth but that having a baby on specific dates can be more meaningful for some families.
“On Christmas, it just makes it a little more special,” Ludlow said.
Doctors and nurses at Harrison deliver from 1,800 to 2,000 babies a year, said Ludlow. This equates to a monthly average of about 140 to 200 babies.
Other than holidays that come every year such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, there have also been specific dates that women have wanted to give birth on, said Ludlow. Those dates in the past have included June 6, 2006 and July 7, 2007.
And opposite to those who may look forward to having their baby on a holiday or significant date, Ludlow said that some people are adamant about not giving birth on days such as Halloween or Friday the 13th — or any holiday altogether.
“My sister-in-law refused to go to the doctor until [December] 26th. She went into labor on the 25th.” said Ludlow. “Some people don’t want to share that day.”
For the Price family, they were happy to have a new addition to the family on Christmas Day — even if Christmases will be celebrated a little differently for them.
“It will probably be a lot different now,” said Billy Price, 33. “We’ll have to have a birthday party on Christmas.”
The older siblings enjoy taking turns holding their new baby brother — with the help of mom or dad. Blake sleeps quietly and doesn’t cry.
“That’s the thing I like about him,” said David.
Although some people may not like birthdays that fall in December because they have to “share” with the Christmas holiday, Brittany Price said their family does not have that concern.
“He’s our last baby. We thought it was neat,” she said. “We’ll have to separate birthday wrapping and Christmas wrapping.”
