What happens when your leap year birthday only comes every four years?

On Thursday, Susan will be 12, Leanne will turn nine and Jade will be just eight although they’ll officially be 48, 36 and 32.

That’s because the three women share an unusual and unique birthday – February 29.

Each of them was born in a leap year on the extra day in February meaning they can only celebrate their real birthday once every four years.

What’s it like being born on February 29?

Would you celebrate your birthday on February 28 or March in the years between a leap year – or maybe you’d celebrate twice!

Susan lives in Appleton and grew up in Leigh attending Lowton High School.

On Thursday, she will be 48 or 12 in leap years.

Susan, aged eight, and her friends at Gilded Hollins Primary School in Lowton with some of her birthday cards (from the Leigh Reporter)

She chooses which day she’ll celebrate her birthday every year depending which day of the week February 28 and March 1 fall.

Susan said: “I never choose a Monday! Who wants to celebrate their birthday on a Monday?

“I typically celebrate on both days as nobody really knows when to wish me a happy birthday.

“I celebrate more when it’s a leap year and always celebrate my leap year age with cards and candles showing the lower age.

“When I was 40, I had a 1980s themed ‘I am 10’ party with kids’ food and a retro Barbie cake.”

Susan loves being a leap year baby or leapling and always uses the fact in icebreaker activities at work, although she admits that most people know now that she was born on February 29.

Susan said: “This year, I think I’ll go old school with my choice of cake and have a film night with my husband and children.”

Leanne Jones and her mum Ange

Leanne lives in Orford and was born on February 29, 1988 so this week she will be turning 36 or nine in leap years.

Each year, she celebrates her birthday on February 28 and as a child, Leanne, who went to St Augustine’s Primary School and Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, would always have big birthday parties with lots of cake.

Leanne was in the paper when she was born in 1988

Leanne said: “This year, with it being a leap year, I’m hoping to celebrate with a few nights out – lots of cocktails and some meals with family and friends and, of course, plenty of cake as always.

“I’ve always liked having my birthday on February 29.

“It’s fun to be a bit different and is always a good talking point.”

Jade lives in Dallam and grew up in Bewsey on Folley Lane attending Bewsey Lodge Primary School and Sir Thomas Boteler High School.

This week, she will be 32 or rather eight as she was born on February 29, 1992.

Jade will be turning 32 this week

Jade said: “I always celebrate my birthday on February 28 but when I was a child and it was a leap year I always had fantastic parties with two cakes!

“I still get cards with my leap year birthday age even now.

“I love that I was born on February 29 because it’s unique and definitely a conversation starter.

“This year, I’m planning to go karting with my son.”