Felix Welcomes 2024 as Viersen Hospital's 787th Newborn on New Year's Eve

A baby boy named Felix became the 787th birth at Viersen General Hospital in 2024. He arrived naturally at 10:40 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, a rare birthdate in North Rhine-Westphalia. His parents, Natalie Reuland-Gilgenast and her husband, are from Viersen and had a pregnancy with some risks. Natalie Reuland-Gilgenast’s pregnancy required joint care at the hospital due to complications. Despite this, Felix was delivered without surgical intervention. His birth marked the final arrival of the year at the hospital, which saw nearly the same number of deliveries as in 2023.

Most births at the hospital occurred in May and September. These peaks contrast with Felix’s late-December arrival, a less common time for deliveries in the region. Across North Rhine-Westphalia, the average fertility rate for women aged 15 to 49 dropped to 1.39 in 2024, down from 1.41 the previous year. Felix is the first child for his parents. His birth capped a year where Viersen General Hospital maintained steady delivery numbers despite a regional decline. The family received specialised support throughout the pregnancy.