Babies born between 37 and 40 weeks generally weigh between 5 and 8 pounds, but when a baby weighs over 9 pounds at birth, it’s typically considered larger than average. However, it’s important to note that these statistics don’t account for every baby worldwide, and there are exceptions like baby Leo, who was born weighing significantly more than the average.
Leo made a grand entrance on June 28, arriving just in time to celebrate the national holiday, despite his due date being July 4.
Weighing a surprising 13 pounds and 2 ounces, he amazed everyone at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, where his mother underwent a C-section.
Leo is the family’s second child, and his older sibling weighed 9 pounds and 15 ounces at birth, so the couple anticipated a slightly heavier baby.
However, they were not prepared for his remarkable size. Fetal macrosomia, a term used when a baby is larger than the average, can occur due to genetic factors, the mother’s overall health, and other variables like the baby’s gender, with boys tending to be larger. The likelihood of macrosomia also increases with subsequent pregnancies and may be influenced by medical conditions such as diabetes and excessive weight gain.
Despite his size, baby Leo is healthy, and his sugar levels are normal. Leo’s constant appetite keeps his parents on their toes.
He already appears older than his age, wearing clothes meant for 3-6-month-olds and using size 2 diapers.
While Leo’s size is impressive, he is not the heaviest baby ever born.
Historical cases include a baby weighing 22 pounds born to Anna Swan, who herself had a birth weight of 13-15 pounds, and another 22-pound baby born in 1955, holding the Guinness World Record for the heaviest newborn.
Babies vary in size and capabilities at birth, and some demonstrate remarkable strength, like one baby who was able to crawl and lift their head shortly after being born.
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