Butler County welcomes first baby of 2025
Marissa Harbaugh, of East Butler, was not expecting to give birth to the first baby in Butler County in 2025 while relaxing at home on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 2.
Just hours later, Bentley Ryan Harbaugh was welcomed into the world at Butler Memorial Hospital.
“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Marissa said. “His due date was Jan. 10.”
Bentley was born on Jan. 3, 2025, at 12:11 a.m., and weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 21 inches long.
Bentley is Marissa and Ryan Harbaugh’s first child. While Bentley’s middle name is taken from his father, there was no particular inspiration behind the first name.
“It was just Marissa reading names and us deciding what we both liked,” Ryan said. “That name was the winner.”
Ryan said he helped as much as he could to make sure his wife was taken care of during the pregnancy.
“I did what I could to keep things moving,” Ryan said.
According to both parents, the pregnancy was fairly standard with no complications.
“It had its ups and downs,” Marissa said. “I was really sick in the beginning, but it got easier near the end.”
Marissa reported a quick and easy labor, lasting just four hours.
“We went to the hospital at 8 p.m., and just after midnight he was born,” she said.
When informed by hospital staff that Bentley was the first child born in the county in 2025, Marissa and Ryan were surprised.
“I was shocked because it was day three,” Marissa said.
On Friday, the hospital room had an air of peace as Bentley slept in his mother’s arms. Both parents were exhausted due to how long they had been awake, but thrilled about what the future holds.
Looking into that future, Ryan and Marissa are excited to see what comes next in their life.
“It gives us new adventures,” Ryan said. “We’re looking forward to the chaos.”
As far as growing the family, Ryan and Marissa expressed an interest in a second child “eventually.”
