Forty-five minutes into the new year, Gregory Scicluna popped into the world to become Malta’s first newborn of 2013.

“Labour is always exhausting but it is all worth it when you see your child before your eyes,” his mother, Josianne, smiled, cradling her son as the proud father, Ivor, stood close by.

The baby had been expected to be delivered between Christmas Day and December 30.

“Our other son, Zachary, is very excited to meet his younger brother. We had told him that he’ll be arriving with Baby Jesus but he took a little longer,” the mother said.

An hour after Gregory’s birth, Kian was born in another ward at 1.45am to Ryan Gialanzè and Vanessa Scerri.

The two boys were preceded by baby Luċija, the last baby of 2012.

Her parents, Therese and Owen Mifsud, were getting ready to leave home for a New Year’s Eve party when labour pains started. The couple were taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance where Luċija was born just after 11pm.

Her parents thanked everyone for the “impeccable service” received at such a short notice.

Health Minister Joe Cassar visited the beaming parents at the Mater Dei wards before heading off to Mass for patients and staff.

In all, eight babies were born in State hospitals yesterday – seven in Malta, and one in Gozo.