HYDERABAD: Some term them lucky, as their age is, technically speaking, only a quarter of their original age. But for most of them born on February 29, celebrating birthdays is a luxury they can feast on only once every four years. Possibly why, not wanting to put their child through any form of unease in the future, expectant mothers in the city are requesting gynaecologists to delay the delivery date to March 1 , or better still, prepone the date to February 28.
“We have already had two cases where the delivery has been scheduled for Tuesday, a day ahead of Feb 29. The parents want to avoid the last day of this month. The reason is not superstition, as the parents are educated and from well off modern families, but rather it’s because they feel their child will be able to celebrate his/her birthday only once in four years, if born this Wednesday,” said Dr Josna, a gynaecologist at Yashodha Hospital. “Of course, the final call on the delivery will be taken only if all health parameters are regular,” she added. The hospital has also received one request for delaying the delivery to the new month, on the 1st of March. Reports have also come in from Olive Hospitals that a delivery case for 29th will in all probability be postponed for the same reason, unless health conditions force otherwise.
But there have also been cases reported where date is not a concern. Dr Susheela, a gynaecologist with Care Hospital said that none of the expectant mothers at the hospital had requested for early or late delivery.
“They are aware of the extra day this month, which falls only once in four years, but they are more interested in a safe and natural delivery.”