LEWISTON — It would appear that the first Maine baby of 2025 was delivered in Lewiston.

But it was close.

At 2:34 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Liliana Kimbela delivered a baby boy at Central Maine Medical Center. The baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. For the time being, the newborn was dubbed “Baby Boy Kimbela” until his mother comes up with a permanent name.

Baby Boy Kimbela came into the world just minutes ahead of Michael Nathan Maiato, who was born at 2:55 a.m. in Portland to Paige and Joe Maiato of Kennebunk.

It’s not a race, of course. The important thing, hospital officials note, is that both babies were born healthy.

But of course, for hospital folk, there IS some pride in delivering the first child of a new year.

When a baby is born at CMMC, a chime that is heard around the hospital is played to share the good news. That chime came real early on New Year’s Day when Baby Boy Kimbela made his appearance.

“What a great way to start the new year, not only for the family of the newborn, but for all of us here at CMMC,” said Tasha Duval, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Central Maine Healthcare. “Our team members in maternity are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment to have a baby, and we look forward to welcoming many more newborns at CMMC in 2025.”

In 2024, about 750 babies were born at CMMC. Late last year, U.S. News & World Report once again recognized the hospital as “High Performing in Maternity Care.” Earlier this year, Newsweek also named CMMC one of the best hospitals in the nation for maternity.

Also in Portland on Wednesday, Kolton Robert was born at 7:27 a.m. to Mariah Rouille and Robert Desrosier of South Paris. Kolton weighed 8 pounds, 4.9 ounces when born at Northern Light Mercy Hospital.

Around the state, other newborns came into the world on New Year’s Day in Augusta and Bangor, bringing the total of babies born in the state to five.