Marathon mamas deliver the first babes of 2020 after laboring 24 hours or longer

Born only seven minutes apart, the first two babies of 2020 in Pittsburgh took their sweet time to arrive as their first-time mothers labored for 24 hours or longer.

Labor typically lasts an average of 12 to 24 hours for a first birth, according to WebMD.com.

Erika Peoples and Kenneth Sands of Pittsburgh welcomed daughter Onari at 12:09 a.m. at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19.5 inches, according to Amy Charley, a UPMC spokeswoman.

Contractions started Monday night for Peoples, who saw her doctors Tuesday morning, returned home then went back to Magee-Women’s Hospital that night.

Although the labor was long, once Peoples was close to delivery around midnight Wednesday, things moved fast. “It wasn’t bad,” she said. Onari was a trooper, according to Peoples. “She held out. She wanted something special, I guess.”

Jessica and Mark Ciufo of Franklin Park welcomed son Leo at 12:16 a.m. at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 21 inches long.

Due Dec. 23, Ciufo thought she would have a Christmas baby and was “chilling at home.” She chilled more than expected and, after seven days had passed, Ciufo opted to induce labor. She remained in labor for about 24 hours.

“I think Leo and me are exhausted, but it’s all good,” Ciufo said as Leo slept quietly next to her.

Both parents said they were happy for a healthy baby no matter how long it took for him to arrive.

Mark Ciufo said he was glad Leo was born on New Year’s Day. “It will be another reason to celebrate,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, Margaret and Cameron Thompson of Coraopolis welcomed daughter Devereaux in the Mountain Room Birth suite shortly after 6 a.m. She weighed 7 pounds, 7.5 ounces.

This was a special birth for the Midwife Center and the family, as the couple had their first baby, Maddox, there on Christmas Day eight years ago.

“We are so grateful that Margaret and Cameron have trusted us with the care of their growing family,” said the center’s Emily McGahey, who was in attendance for both births to “witness Margaret’s strength.”

The facility reports being the largest freestanding birth center in the U.S. In 2019, a record 464 babies were born in the practice.