PORTLAND, Maine — At least 20 babies in Maine were born on a very special day Thursday: Leap Day.
For those with a normal calendar birthday, celebrating each year is no surprise. But for these "Leaplings," a birthday will come around just once every four years.
A leap year exists as a correction to counter the fact that Earth's orbit does not precisely match up with a 365-day calendar year.
Twenty-two babies were born Thursday between the two largest hospital systems in the state, spokespeople with MaineHealth and Northern Light Health told NEWS CENTER Maine.
According to a MaineHealth spokesperson, 15 babies were born in the hospital system on Leap Day this year:
- Maine Medical Center: 12
- Franklin Memorial Hospital: 1
- Pen Bay Medical Center: 1
- Southern Maine Health Care: 1
A spokesperson with Northern Light Health shared that their system welcomed seven babies into the world Thursday:
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center: 6
- Northern Light Mercy Hospital: 1
The number of births from this leap year in Maine line up pretty well with past leap year births.
Northern Light Health told NEWS CENTER Maine it welcomed 11 babies in 2012, 13 in 2016, and 3 in 2020.
Even though these Leaplings won't reach their official first birthday until four years from now, there is always room to celebrate them each year regardless.