In Florida, Maxxandra Ford set a new record at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital after giving birth to a 14.1-pound baby. Her son, Ivery, was declared the hospital’s heaviest newborn; and the amazing part about his arrival is his mother didn’t even know she was pregnant. Ford started gaining weight in the fall but didn’t take a pregnancy test until her husband noticed that she was gaining weight rapidly.
Unbelievably, Ford’s first doctors appointment after the positive pregnancy test revealed that she was 35-weeks pregnant and her baby was expected to be 10-pounds. However, during Ivery’s birth, Ford said she knew that he weighted more than ten pounds. According to Guinness World Records, Avery is the second largest baby ever born. In 1879, Ann Bates of Canada gave birth to a newborn that weighed in at 23 pounds, 12 ounces.
The birth took place on January 29. It was successful, and the new 14-pound infant — named Avery — is healthy, and so is the mother.
Maxxzandra already has two children, a six-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. Their birth weights were nine and ten pounds, a bit above the national average of 7.5 pounds.
Hospital officials did not want to give too many specifics on Avery’s delivery citing privacy issues. Still, according to the Tampa Tribune, they did go over some general information.
Anything over 8.8 pounds is considered a “high-birth weight.” Babies that exceed that upper limit risk injury on their way into the world, especially at 14 pounds, according to neonatologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital Dr. Jenelle Ferry.
“Some experience respiratory distress, where they have trouble breathing. Other babies have hypoglycemia, where they have low sugar levels, and some have trouble feeding.”
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Luckily, Avery did not suffer from these conditions and Maxxzandra did not require a caesarean section. The two are expected to be released from the hospital in a few days.
LifeNews previously reported that another woman gave birth to a baby not knowing she was pregnant— but this mom didn’t know until the day her child was born. In April 2014, Jennifer Scollin called 911 when she thought she had a severe stomach bug. However, shortly after the paramedic’s arrived, and only two pushes later, her son Cole was born. He was delivered in the back of an ambulance, in her driveway.
