North Alabama Medical Center Celebrates Leap Day Babies

FLORENCE, Alabama (Friday, March 1, 2024) –Labor and Delivery staff at North Alabama Medical Center had a busy day on Thursday, February 29 with the most babies born on any Leap Day since 1980 at the facility. 

Karson Scott Bailey was the first to be born at NAMC on the special day that comes once every four years.  He weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces and an even 20 inches in length. Dr. Brent Hurd conducted the delivery at 7:45 a.m. to the proud parents Haley Scott and Joseph Bailey of Mount Hope.

“We are completely over the moon,” said Scott. “He is absolutely perfect. NAMC has been phenomenal in all ways possible. The care and love they have for their patients is astonishing.”

NAMC celebrated the occasion of these births by providing “leap frog” hats to each new baby.  “Every day is a celebration day on the labor and delivery unit at North Alabama Medical Center,” shared Director of Labor and Delivery, Kendra Smith. “But it’s really fun when there’s a special occasion to mark a birth or we get to join in the fun by talking to mom or dad about how they’ll celebrate for years to come.” 

Other babies born on Leap Day include Julian Ellis Fox, born to Kyle and Alicia Fox of Rogersville; Decker Lee Goad, born to Randy and Brilee Goad of Killen; Wesley Masayi David Siro, born to Wungathing Siro and Allison House of Florence and Ruthie Nell Belue, born to Jarrod and Ivie Belue of Anderson; and more.

North Alabama’s Center for Women and Children welcomes approximately 1200 babies each year. The Center, located within the hospital, offers obstetric and gynecology care, as well as pediatrics, breast health and educational classes for new and expecting mothers. The L&D unit features two HOPE Suite rooms geared toward natural births and include a laboring tub, Bluetooth monitoring system, birthing balls, and birthing swing.  NAMC maintains a Level II special care nursery.