Vanessa Cervantez knows what it's like to carry and deliver large babies. Although she's just 5'1", the petite California mom has already given birth to two big children -- a 10-pound, 10-ounce boy and a 9-pound, 14-ounce girl. But even she was in total shock when doctors announced the birth weight of her latest "peanut": Andrew Jacob Cervantez entered the world weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces -- and measuring 24 inches in length! Though it has yet to be officially confirmed, Andrew just might be the biggest baby ever born in California. Ouch -- I'm in pain just thinking about it!
Vanessa visited her doctor at 38 weeks and, after a routine test, was told her baby's movements had decreased and he was having trouble breathing. She was admitted to the hospital immediately and received an emergency C-section. Andrew had to be transported to a different hospital in order to receive services at its neonatal intensive care unit because he was still having breathing difficulties after he was born.
If you feel like you're hearing more stories than ever before about babies being born who far surpass the average weight of 7 pounds, it's because you are. According to a recent report, there has been a 15 to 25 percent increase in babies born weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces or more. Bigger babies can be attributed to fewer women smoking and drinking while pregnant -- whoo hoo! -- but it can also be the result of babies born to moms who are obese or overweight.
Bigger babies are also more likely to suffer from childbirth complications and diabetes and obesity when they are adults.
As a pregnant woman in my seventh month, I am having a difficult enough time carrying a 3- to 4-pound baby and cannot imagine what this mom must have felt like. I guess the pros of having a big baby include better sleeping patterns right off the bat and no need to purchase newborn-size clothing (which proved a waste of money, as my daughter outgrew everything in two months).
But I couldn't imagine dealing with the back pain and other aches that would accompany carrying a larger baby. And the potential health risks associated with a higher birthweight also frighten me. Still, I know tons of moms who gave birth to perfectly healthy babies weighing 9 and 10 pounds. As far as the pain goes, it seems -- their words, not mine -- like pain is pain whether your baby weighs 6 or 10 pounds.
How big was your baby?
Image via slgckgc/Flickr