Northland's first baby of 2013 came way early

• First baby of 2013

Jesse Schuety of Bovey touches his son, Gilbert David Schuety, who is the first baby born in Duluth in 2013. Gilbert was born at 12:41 a.m Tuesday. He weighs 3 pounds, 2 ounces and is 16 inches long. His due date was Feb. 19. He is in the neonatal intensive care unit at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

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Jesse and Allison Schuety had just finished watching the movie “Ben Hur” at their home in Bovey on New Year’s Eve when Allison felt something wasn’t quite right.

The couple was expecting their first baby, but not until Feb. 19. Still, they weren’t taking any chances.

They drove to the Deer River hospital, where doctors immediately called for a helicopter ambulance to rush Allison to Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

Jesse, 27, had to drive himself to Duluth, a nearly two-hour trip.

“That was not fun. You know how when women ask you what you are thinking and you say ‘nothing’? Well, I wish it would have been nothing this time. That was a long drive,’’ he joked.

Allison, 29, was rushed into Caesarean-section surgery, and tiny Gilbert David Schuety was delivered at 12:41 a.m. New Year’s Day – the first baby of 2013 in the Northland — all 3 pounds, 2 ounces of him.

“It was a very big surprise. We weren’t even thinking about a birth date for another seven weeks,’’ the proud but tired father told the News Tribune on Tuesday afternoon as the mother slept.

Jesse said doctors are optimistic that Gilbert David will be just fine.

“He started breathing on his own right away. He just has some growing up to do before we can take him home,’’ he said, adding that doctors expect Gilbert David to stay in the hospital two to four weeks. The couple plans to stay with relatives in Duluth.

For those wondering, the name Gilbert comes from the character Gilbert Blythe in the book and movie “Anne of Green Gables,” a young man portrayed as fair, smart, funny and someone inclined to have a common-sense view of things.

David is the son of Jesse in the Bible’s Old Testament, Jesse noted.

Tags: life, news, family, essentia