2024 has seen almost 80 new babies on the South Coast, with three of those born on the rarest date.
The day that only comes around every four years, February 29, has seen two baby boys and one baby girl born at South East Regional Hospital in Bega.
Baby Elijah, was born to Joanne Rootsey and Dominic Russell from Eden. A baby boy yet to be named, was born to Elizabeth Walker and Chris Taylor from Bega.
While Michaela Langsdale and Spencer Timms from Eden, welcomed baby girl, Andie, who was a week overdue.
Michaela told East Coast Radio when she first got the news her due date was February 23rd during a leap year, she knew her baby would be born on the 29th.
“I just had a feeling about it, I thought she’d want to be a bit quirky and out there,” Ms Langsdale said.
“So it wasn’t a surprise when it came to the day and I was a bit overdue then she came but yeah we feel like we’ve given her a party story to tell forever, being born on a leap year,” she said.
There’s only a one in 1461 chance of being born on February 29, making it the rarest birthday.
Baby Andie arrived just in time, (9:43pm) to make it into the exclusive ‘Leaplings Club’, who have just a quarter of the birthdays the rest of us celebrate.
We put the question to Michaela on how she and partner Spencer will celebrate Andie’s birthdays in the future.
“We’ve been talking about that and one idea is just to do it once every four years,” Langsdale said with a smile.
“No, just joking, we’re thinking about whether we’ll do the 28th of February or the 1st of March, so we’ll play it by ear but it’s definitely something for us to think about,” she said.
“We’re first time parents, so it’s very exciting.
“All the staff at Bega have been amazing and you feel like you’re in some kind of resort at South East Regional, sitting out looking out over the fields with the cows, so yeah we’re really excited.”
Midwife at South East Regional Hospital in Bega, Celine Conrad, who was part of Southern’s midwifery team that won the Patient Safety First category at the 2022 NSW Health Awards, said February 29 was a busy day for local midwives.
“It was a big day for Bega,” Conrad said.
“We only have three babies on one day a few times a year.”
One of the team’s busiest days in recent times was the 29th of July 2023, when six babies were welcomed into the world at Bega on the same day.
As at the 29th of February 2024, the South Coast has welcomed 75 new little people into the world, with 35 babies born at South East Regional Hospital and 40 at Moruya Hospital.
Images: Southern NSW Local Health District, East Coast Radio
