Coming in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces, Zayne Joseph made Iberia Parish history Monday morning as the first Iberia Parish baby to enter the world in 2018.

Katherine Carmouche, a New Iberia resident, delivered Joseph at the main campus of Iberia Medical Center at 11:49 a.m. Monday. Joseph is 1 pound larger than Lailah McCain, the first baby of 2017 who weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces.

Carmouche said the child wasn’t exactly planned, but was overjoyed with the delivery of her new son on Monday. 

“It wasn’t a planned baby, but we’re excited,” Carmouche said Tuesday afternoon. 

Carmouche, who isn’t a stranger to the delivery process, said there weren’t any surprises with Joseph’s birth. Carmouche said Joseph is her sixth child. 

The experience was a new one for Joseph’s father, however. Tre Brumsfield of Lafayette has been dating Carmouche the past few months and said the timing was right for a child. 

“I’m used to it. My baby’s 8 years old,” Carmouche said. “It’s new for him.”

“I finally met the right woman,” Brumsfield said. 

Brumsfield and Carmouche were all smiles Tuesday afternoon at IMC as she held Joseph. She also complimented the professionalism of the staff at IMC.

Since Joseph was delivered, neither the mother or baby has gotten

much sleep. 

“He’s a breastfed baby so we haven’t gotten much sleep,” she said with a laugh. “But he’s worth it.”

The couple’s child likely will be among the last to be born before IMC’s new delivery unit is up and running. The hospital had a ribbon cutting for that unit on Dec. 19.

Seth Landry IMC public relations coordinator, said it should be open fairly soon pending some final work. 

Carmouche said the couple expected to check out of IMC and head home today. 

“Hopefully, we’re getting out tomorrow,” she said Tuesday.