Several families in New Jersey welcomed the new year with the birth of their children at hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian Health network. The first baby of 2026 delivered in the network was a girl, Nova Nicole Norton, born at 1:05 AM at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair. Her parents, Naomi and Ezra Norton, reside in Somerset, New Jersey. Nova weighed 6 pounds and 3 ounces.
Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, commented on this milestone: “The arrival of the first babies of 2026 is a joyous and exciting moment for all of us at Hackensack Meridian Health. It’s a powerful reminder of our mission: to provide the highest quality care to every mother and child,” he said. “My deepest thanks go to our outstanding team members for their unwavering commitment, and we send our warmest congratulations to the proud new parents. We wish all our communities a vibrant and healthy new year.”
Hospitals within Hackensack Meridian Health have again received recognition from U.S. News & World Report for maternity care excellence in 2026. Facilities such as Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Palisades Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center were named among the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. This high performing designation is considered the top honor given by U.S. News as part of its annual study on maternity care.
