Springfield Welcomes First Baby of 2026

HSHS St. John’s Hospital announced the birth of the first baby born in Springfield in 2026 early Thursday morning.

Theodore Barker was born at 12:41 a.m. on Jan. 1 to parents Amy Dhabalt-Barker and Matt Barker of Springfield. He weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Staff at HSHS St. John’s Women and Infants Center presented the family with a gift basket in recognition of Theodore’s birth as the hospital’s New Year’s baby.

St. John’s encourages expectant mothers due in 2026 to contact the hospital to schedule tours and enroll in birthing classes.

HSHS St. John’s is a Level III Perinatal Center, offering advanced care for mothers and infants across south-central Illinois. The Women and Infants Center delivers more than 2,000 babies each year, and its antenatal unit is staffed around the clock by maternal and fetal medicine specialists to care for patients who may need additional monitoring during pregnancy.

More information about the Women and Infants Center, as well as available classes and tours, can be found at hshs.org/st-johns/services/pregnancy-and-birth.