Taking the Leap: Eight Babies Born Feb. 29 at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus

It just barely happened, but Antoinette Caruso, of Mullica Township, had a feeling it would.

"The due date was March 5, but I knew she was going to do that to me," Caruso said while sitting with her husband, William, and their newborn daughter, Isabella. "And sure enough she came Feb. 29."

Isabella Caruso and Justin Siena Banggad are two of eight babies born at in Galloway on Feb. 29, or "leap day," as it is commonly known as.

With her baby due the following Monday, Antoinette Caruso checked into AtlantiCare's Center for Childbirth late Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 28. Around 11:45 p.m., she realized she would have a "leap day baby." Isabella was born at 12:05 Wednesday morning, Feb. 29.

"It's a struggle to know what she's going to deal with in life," Antoinette Caruso said of her daughter's birthday. "But I realized I wasn't the one in control. God was in control and he would do the right thing. At least she's here and she's healthy."

William Caruso looks at the brighter side.

"I don't have to worry about her dating until she's 50," he said with a smile.

They said they would celebrate her birthday on March 1 because Feb. 28 is technically before her birthday.

"Computers don't even record Feb. 29," William Caruso said.

Because the date comes once every four years, certain computer programs don't recognize Feb. 29 as a legitimate birthdate, and those who have that birthday often must use either Feb. 28 or March 1 in its place.

That hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of the rest of the Caruso Family, who is excited that William and Antoinette's first born came on the unusual date.

Isabella Caruso was born 6 pounds, 12.2 ounces, and was 21 inches in length.

Banggad is the fourth born child of Egg Harbor Township resident Jubillee Lindsay. Banggad wasn't due until March 14, but like Lindsay's other three children, she was two weeks early.

"I didn't really think too much about the date," Lindsay said. "It's unique. Few people are born on that day. I don't know anybody born on Feb. 29."

Lindsay's surprise baby shower was on Tuesday. She took her friends to the Tropicana in Atlantic City, where her water broke around 11:30 that night. She went to the hospital, and Baggdan was born at 3:56 a.m. Feb. 29.

Banggad was born 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 20 inches in length.