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Nantucket Woman Gives Birth to Baby Boy During Blizzard

Cayden Keith Moore was born at 3:53 a.m. on Tuesday, while a strong blizzard clobbered Nantucket. Luckily the hospital had a backup generator.
Danielle Smith of Nantucket gave birth to Cayden Keith Moore at 3:53 a.m. on Jan. 27, weighing 6 pounds, 4.8 ounces and measuring 17 and three-quarter inches.
Danielle Smith of Nantucket gave birth to Cayden Keith Moore at 3:53 a.m. on Jan. 27, weighing 6 pounds, 4.8 ounces and measuring 17 and three-quarter inches.Courtesy Danielle Smith

As a blizzard that dumped more than two feet of snow over New England clobbered the island of Nantucket in the wee hours of Tuesday, one woman gave birth in a hospital that was forced to rely on a backup generator.

Weighing 6 pounds, 4.8 ounces, Cayden Keith Moore was born at 3:53 a.m., and about a week and a half early.

"I was happy he came early,” mother Danielle Smith said. "I was happy because I was having such a hard time sleeping.”

Smith, 22, said she started having far-apart contractions Sunday, so Dr. Margaret Koehm, the physician who delivered the baby at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, advised her to pack a bag and head to the hospital before the weather deteriorated Monday.

Image: Danielle Smith of Nantucket gave birth during the blizzard
Danielle Smith of Nantucket gave birth to Cayden Keith Moore at 3:53 a.m. on Jan. 27, weighing 6 pounds, 4.8 ounces and measuring 17 and three-quarter inchesCourtesy Danielle Smith

The strongest gust from the Northeast blizzard was recorded on Nantucket — 78 mph. The whole island lost power in the storm, but Smith said she was in labor and didn't realize when the lights went out.

She said it helped to have her boyfriend, Corry Moore, by her side, since poor road conditions didn't allow her mother to make it to the hospital before the baby was born.

"He was more excited than nervous," Smith said of Moore.

Smith said she looks forward to leaving the hospital with her baby boy, but will stay put until power is restored and the roads are plowed.

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— Becky Bratu