Rachelle and Zach Roberson were hoping their daughters would spend at least 37 weeks in the womb.
But Baker, the smaller of the identical twins, had other ideas.
She broke through her amniotic sac on Feb. 29, making it necessary for the girls to arrive a little earlier than the March 12 induction scheduled by OB/GYN Andrea Fullerton, MD, who along with maternal-fetal specialist Michael Wolfe, MD, had been carefully monitoring their development.
Laborist Teresa Craddock, MD, delivered 4 pound, 15 ounce Baker and 6 pound Bennett by caesarean section at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph at 5:14 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
So technically the Leap Day twins' next birthday won't come around for another four years.
But the Wichita couple still plan to celebrate their birthday each year on Feb. 28.
In the meantime, Baker and Bennett are both in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the NewLife Center at St. Joseph, working on their feeding skills so they can go home.
And first-time parents Rachelle and Zach are ready for the big day once it arrives.
Both participated in nearly every new and expectant parent class offered by the NewLife Center, all at no cost thanks to a grant by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at Ascension Via Christi.
"It was awesome to have all of those resources available," says Rachelle, who works as a social worker at Big Brothers and Sisters. "It's something I hope everyone will take advantage of."
Zach, who works as a terminal manager for a national freight company, agreed, noting he found the Baby Care Seminar and Bootcamp for New Dads especially helpful.
Both appreciated having the opportunity to get familiar with members of their hospital care team and the facility before the twins arrival.
For now, they are just enjoying getting to know "spitfire" Baker, who the sonograms had shown pushing her sister and taking up all the room in the womb, and "slow and steady" Bennett.