Parents’ wish for “lucky” baby Liam born on New Year’s Day

Born on New Year’s Day, Liam Ngo was one of the first Territory babies born this year and given a special name to mark the day.

Weighing a healthy 3740 grams, Liam (Phuc Khang) Ngo was the first baby to be born at the Darwin Private Hospital in 2024.

Baby Liam was welcomed into the world at 12:08pm on New Year’s Day and given the traditional Vietnamese name Cuong meaning “healthy, strong and lucky” reflecting their aspirations for his future.

Proud parents Vivian, 27, and Kin, 35, were overjoyed at the birth of their first child who arrived “exactly on his due date” and excited to start the new year as parents.

“He’s our first born and we’re excited but also [have] a little bit of anxiety and nervousness but so excited,” Mr Ngo said.

“[He was born on] the first of the week, first of the month, and the first of the year, he’s so special to us,” Mrs Ngo said.

“Everyone will celebrate the new year but he will also have his birthday too which is so special for him and we hope he will be healthy and have an easy going life.”

Baby Liam was born on New Year’s Day 2024 at Darwin Private Hospital. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mrs Ngo said she had an easy pregnancy and was at their home in Jingli when her water broke on New Year’s Eve.

“It was really easy for me, I was really, really healthy, he gives me strength and I feel even stronger than before I was pregnant,” she said.

“Labour was a little bit hard but it went good, it was nearly 30 hours for the contractions but it all worked.

“When he came out, he and my wife [were] safe and healthy so I’m very happy,” Mr Ngo said.

The couple are hoping to welcome more children in the future but will see how little Liam goes first.

The very first new Territorian of the year was born at 26 minutes past midnight in Alice Springs.