I’m sure I speak for many child-free women when I say the idea of giving birth seems kind of downright impossible.
I have heard people describe the process as akin to ‘pooping a melon’ or ‘easing a football out of your nostril’. It doesn’t sound like a fun day out for anyone involved.
But hey, at least newborn babies are handily compact, right? I mean, 7 pounds; some weirdly determined people lose that in between two Slimming World classes.
However, there is always the possibility there is an absolute giant thundering around in your uterus…
A 42-year-old mum from Dagestanskiye Ogni, in Russia’s south-western Republic of Dagestan, was left startled after her newborn daughter was born.
The little girl weighed an eye watering 13lb 14oz (6.3kg). To make matters even more shocking, this hardy mama delivered the colossal child without any medical assistance.
Details of this unusual birth were given by local health watchdogs. Thankfully, both mum and baby are said to be doing well.
However, a spokesperson has also said:
Of course this is overweight, this is pathology.
According to the medical team, the baby has problems with hearing.
Other problems may occur in the future.
The family have decided not to give any details about the mother’s identity, or the baby herself. However, it is understood this is the fifth child to be born to this woman-of-steel.
On average, the weight of newborn babies of European heritage is 7lb 11oz (3.5kg), with 95 per cent of newborns weighing between 5lb 8oz (2.5kg) and 11lb (5kg).
The baby has sent shockwaves across Russian social media. Netizen ‘Sofia Goncharova’ sympathised ‘Poor woman!’ while another incredulous person by the name of ‘Vlad Zubov’ stated ‘This is crazy.’
A woman by the name ‘Diana’ noted:
Usually kids can get so heavy in cases when their mother has diabetes.
Sometimes it can be the first stage of diabetes.
The heaviest child ever born to a healthy mother, according to the Guinness World Records team, was a ‘little’ boy from the city of Aversa, Italy.
Born during September 1955 to Sig. Carmelina Fedele, this gargantuan baby tipped/broke the scales at a titanic 22lb 8oz (10.2kg).
Speaking about an ‘upward curve’ of big newborns, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists spokeswoman Daghni Rajasingam told The Guardian:
We are having, on average, larger babies being born. There are several reasons for it, the biggest of which is the global epidemic of obesity and diabetes.
If you’re obese you have a higher risk of having a large baby anyway, even if you don’t have diabetes.
This idea of having a bonnie baby, and that being a good thing, is an old wives’ tale.
Babies who are born bigger have a higher risk themselves of being obese, developing diabetes and heart problems. You want an appropriate-sized baby, is the thing.
This kid has truly had an extraordinary start to life. You can bet if she carries on growing at this rate none of the other kids will dare steal her toys once she gets to nursery school.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.