Publications & Sites 
Highland Park baby first in Lake County in 2013
Aindrila Gupta of Highland Park holds her daughter, Naija Niyogi, who was born at 12:39 a.m. Jan. 1 at NorthShore Highland Park Hospital – the first baby born in Lake County for 2013. | Thomas Delany Jr.~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: January 8, 2013 10:20PM
HIGHLAND PARK — As Shil Niyogi and Aindrila Gupta awaited their first child, they had at least one difference of opinion, and it was all about timing.
“She wanted it in 2012, while I wanted 2013,” Niyogi said.
As it turned out, their daughter, Naija Niyogi, seemed to favor the 2013 plan. More than 24 hours after her mother first went into labor, Naija arrived 39 minutes after the clock struck midnight on Monday at NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, making her the first baby born in Lake County for the new year.
As her mother described it, little Naija seemingly defied medical procedure about her arrival, declining to be induced into 2012.
“I was admitted on Sunday at 7 p.m. for a normal induction process,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “I was in labor for almost 28 hours, but she wouldn’t come out, so we had to push her out, and so we had a C-section (Tuesday) morning.”
Niyogi waited with Gupta throughout the process, saying “it was a long time. We learned a lot about childbirth.”
When Naija made her appearance, she weighed in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was measured 19.5 inches. The new parents, who moved to Highland Park about a year ago, marveled that their daughter didn’t appear to be worn out following her long adventure.
“She’s been very wide awake and playful,” Gupta said, watching as her baby yawned and moved her head from side to side. “And I was told by some of the nurses that she’s very intelligent, too, so as a new mother, I was very happy.”
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Niyogi, praising the Highland Park staff for their efforts, particularly “five different nurses (who are) five wonderful human beings.”
Both Niyogi and his wife pointed out that it will always be easy to remember their daughter’s’ birthday.
“The three most important people in my life are all born in January,” Gupta said. “My daughter, my husband and my mother — the 1st, the 8th and the 10th.”
Elsewhere in the county, a spokeswoman for Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital said a baby girl arrived there at 4:01 a.m., while officials at both Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington and Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan reported that the labor and delivery rooms were all quiet through at least 9 a.m.
