Wedge family welcomes Leap Day baby Melody

WASILLA — Parents Brittany and Stephen Wedge welcomed their first child Melody into the world at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center at 10:49 p.m., on Feb. 29.

As the Wedge’s are looking forward to reminding their daughter, she will not have another Feb. 29 birthday until 2024. Doctors at MSRMC induced labor on Wedge for Melody’s delivery, who was nearing her 24th hour of labor.

“I was like man we might miss the day,” said Brittany Wedge. “At that point I realized we both were just more excited to meet her no matter when she came so we were like you know what, the day was fun it was a cool idea but we just want her here.”

Melody’s mother, 29-year-old Brittany and 31-year-old father Stephen were married on July 26, 2019. Just weeks before the ceremony after Brittany and Stephen were unsure if they could become pregnant together, Brittany took a test and got the good news.

“I was freaking out and so he was immediately excited and I was just like are we ready? Are we sure? Oh my god,this is really happening,” said Brittany Wedge.

Brittany had umbilical cord complications that could have resulted in to traveling to Seattle for Melody’s delivery, but both mother and baby remained healthy even after Melody was delivered as the only baby born on Leap Day in the Valley.

“We were a little exhausted,” said Brittany Wedge. “We just tried to be as positive about it as we could and as soon as we heard her crying everything was just awesome. It didn’t even matter any more.”

Baby Melody Wedge was delivered at 7 pounds, 0 ounces and both mother and child remained healthy throughout the cesarean section delivery. Melody’s father Stephen has undergone major changes since the wedding in preparation for Melody’s birth and said that he could not prepare for the excitement in the room of meeting his daughter for the first time.

“I’m waking up at normal times, which is about to change,” laughed Stephen Wedge. “I did do it and nothing’s given me more motivation than a new life relying on me.”

Brittany said that her pregnancy was mild in terms of sickness but laughed at pictures that were taken throughout the process of preparing for Melody’s delivery on Leap Day, noting how exhausted she was.

“Dad was super supportive and so excited and it was just amazing,” said Brittany Wedge. “Even though the labor was hard, I just kept reminding myself how excited I am that we could do it, and we did.”