Long Branch, NJ, February 29, 2024 – On February 29th in hospitals across the U.S., a special group of babies — children whose birthday is a quadrennial event — were welcomed.
At Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), Jimmy and Alexa Marzarella of Manalapan welcomed their first baby, daughter Lina, at 8:55 a.m. on February 29th. Weighing 6 pounds and 11 ounces, Lina’s birthday will probably be celebrated on February 28th next year, according to Alexa.
The leap year and extra day (Leap Day) was instituted officially in 1582 with the Gregorian calendar (though it dates back to ancient Egyptian times) due to the amount of time it takes the earth to go around the sun, and as a measure to help keep the seasons occurring at the same time every year.
Odds of having a Leap Day birthday are estimated at about one in 1,500. Only about 200,000 people are born on February 29 in America, a pretty select group.
MMC delivers more than 6,700 babies annually, more than all other hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined. A Level III High-Risk Maternity Center since the designation was initiated more than 50 years ago, MMC has a host of accomplishments and recognitions of its maternity services, including being named by Money and Leapfrog to its list of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and among just 384 US hospitals named to Newsweek’s list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals.
The hospital is recognized by Healthgrades for excellence in women’s care, receiving the Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. eight consecutive years, ranking among the top 5% of hospitals evaluated for both obstetrics and gynecology, and for labor and delivery. MMC also was one of three New Jersey hospitals chosen in 2022 to launch TeamBirth, a statewide initiative designed to enhance birthing experiences and improve outcomes.
To learn more about comprehensive maternity services, visit www.rwjbh.ort/monmouth.
Contact: Kathy Horan
(732) 546-6317
Kathy.Horan@rwjbh.org