CENTRAL JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick lay claim to the first baby of 2019, with a girl arriving at 2:21 am., weighing 9 lbs, 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. Officials said it was a long labor, beginning with the mother's arrival at the hospital at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Originally from Edison, parents Adina and Binyamin Brill have not yet named their daughter, who is their first child. The two, who recently moved to Monsey, New York, were thrilled that Baby Girl Brill was born on the anniversary of the couple's engagement party. Also, dad is happy to share his birthday month with his new baby daughter.

"Happy to be on other side of a 30-hour labor," Adina Brill added that her doctor and nurses were "really amazing and made the experience much easier."

The second baby to make an appearance, a boy — Joshua R. Suarez-Jimenez — weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz. and 21 and 1/2 inches long was born at 2:29 a.m. to Yovanny Jimenez-Corcino of North Brunswick at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick.

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Hackensack Meridian Heath, which includes JFK Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth Amboy, started the New Year off with eight births. From midnight until 7 a.m., eight of the network’s hospitals were busy bringing six boys and two girls into the world.

At JFK, a boy — Axel Garcia — was born at 2:30 a.m. to Martina Chavez and Carlos Garcia. Weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 and one-half inches, Baby Axel has three siblings.

At Raritan Bay, a boy arrived at 6:48 a.m.

A girl was born at 1:52 p.m. at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. Journey Divine Discher weighed 7 lbs 9 oz. and is the daughter of Americe Moody and Preston Discher of Montgomery.

At Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center, a baby girl weighing 6 lbs 15 oz. was born to the Lieberman family of Maplewood at 3:04 a.m.

Staff Writer Cheryl Makin: 732-565-7256; cmakin@gannettnj.com