Giving birth to a healthy baby is a blessing, but when a baby is born much larger than average it can present challenges for the mother and medical staff. Throughout history there have been some truly enormous newborns that have amazed doctors. So what is the heaviest baby ever documented? Let’s take a look at the biggest babies on record and the difficulties associated with their size.
What is the average baby weight?
To understand what counts as a heavy baby, it helps to know what the normal range is. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average weight for a full-term newborn is around 7.5 pounds (3.5 kg). However, a healthy baby can range anywhere from 5.5 pounds to 10 pounds (2.5 kg to 4.5 kg). Factors like the mother’s health, genetics, and whether it is a single or multiple birth can all impact size.
Babies are considered low birthweight if they are under 5.5 pounds at full term. On the other end of the spectrum, any baby born over 8.8 pounds is considered large for gestational age or macrosomic. While genetics do play a role, maternal obesity and uncontrolled gestational diabetes are two common causes of excess growth.
What are the risks of delivering a heavy baby?
Carrying and delivering an exceptionally large baby can be risky for both the mother and child. Potential complications include:
- Damage to the mother’s birth canal and pelvic floor
- Increased need for C-section delivery
- Excessive bleeding after birth (postpartum hemorrhage)
- shoulder dystocia – baby’s shoulders get stuck during vaginal birth
For the baby, difficulties can include:
- Birth injuries like nerve damage
- Fractures of the collarbone or arm
- Higher risk of newborn complications like low blood sugar or jaundice
Thankfully with good prenatal care, most women go on to deliver large babies vaginally without issue. However, babies that grow to truly enormous proportions in the womb may require specialized care.
Heaviest babies ever born naturally
While numerous babies have tipped the scales far past average, only a handful of documented cases exist of newborns over 15 pounds delivered without cesarean section. These true giant infants are rare enough to make headlines when they occur. Some of the heaviest babies ever born naturally include:
Anna Bates – 22 pounds (1879)
The Guinness Book of World Records once listed Anna Bates, daughter of Captain Bates and his wife Anna, as the heaviest newborn in history at 22 pounds. She was born in Seville, Ohio in 1879 but sadly died only 11 hours after birth. However, there is speculation about whether this claim was exaggerated.
Benson Buckby – 17 pounds, 2 ounces (2013)
One baby whose massive size was documented in photographs is Benson Buckby of England. Born in 2013 to parents Emma and Ian, Benson weighed an astonishing 17 pounds, 2 ounces. His mother, who carried him for 42 weeks, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes early in pregnancy.
Ademilton dos Santos – 17 pounds, 1 ounce (2011)
Brazilian woman Cleidiane dos Santos gave birth to this heavy baby boy naturally in 2011, but it was far from easy. In fact, the labor took 5 hours to deliver the shoulders alone. Sadly, the baby died from complications hours later.
Big boy Perkins – 16 pounds, 1 ounce (1992)
Janet Johnson of Georgia birthed a baby boy in 1992 that reportedly weighed over 16 pounds and measured 24 inches long. He was said to be the largest newborn ever delivered at the hospital at that time.
Guy Carr – 15 pounds, 8 ounces (1992)
In 1992, Marie and Walter Carr of Canada welcomed a baby boy weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces. He was born naturally after his mother carried him 11 months in the womb – a very rare pregnancy duration.
Heaviest babies born by C-section
When babies are predicted to be macrosomic, planned cesarean deliveries are commonly recommended to avoid birth injuries and complications. Here are some of the heaviest babies ever delivered via C-section.
Italy baby – 22 pounds, 8 ounces (1955)
A baby born in Aversa, Italy in 1955 is said to be the heaviest newborn in the world. However, there is debate around whether this claim was exaggerated. It was reported the child was delivered via C-section and weighed an unbelievable 22 pounds, 8 ounces at birth.
George King – 22 pounds, 8 ounces (2013)
George King born in 2013 is said to be Britain’s heaviest baby, weighing in at 15.7 kg or 22.8 lbs – about the size of a typical 3-month-old! His mother, Jade King, suffered from undiagnosed gestational diabetes which caused George’s massive size. He was delivered by emergency C-section.
Big boy Bakari – 22 pounds, 6 ounces (2018)
Ziad Khoury and his wife welcomed their son Bakari in Boston 2018, needing an emergency C-section due to his incredible size. Bakari was born weighing 22 pounds, 6 ounces and spent time in the NICU before going home.
Carisa Rusack – 21 pounds (2014)
Massachusetts mom Carisa Rusack gave birth to daughter Anais via cesarean in 2014, needing a team of nearly a dozen medical staff to deliver the baby. Anais weighed in at 14.5 kg or 21 pounds – far above average.
A very big baby – 20 pounds, 2 ounces (1879)
In a 1979 article in the New York Times, a Dr. JohnDivita reported delivering a baby in Italy that weighed 20 pounds, 2 ounces. The staggering weight was attributed to the mother’s lack of prenatal care and poor diet.
World’s heaviest triplets
When a woman is pregnant with multiples, the babies tend to be smaller than average. However, the following two cases resulted in some remarkably heavy triplets!
Pemberton triplets – 22 pounds combined (1951)
In 1951, a Canadian woman named Alice Pemberton gave birth to all-female triplets that together weighed an impressive 22 pounds combined. The biggest baby of the trio was Liane, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces.
The Waltons – 20 pounds, 11 ounces combined (1962)
The heaviest set of triplets on record were the Walton brothers, born in Liverpool in 1962. The combined birthweight of the trio was 20 pounds and 11 ounces, or just over 6.5 pounds each. Keith was the heaviest at 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
Heaviest twins on record
Like triplets, twins also tend to be below average in size at birth. But these noteworthy pairs proved to be exceptions to the rule!
Combined: 27 pounds, 15 ounces (2020)
According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest twins ever recorded were a boy and girl born in London in 2020. The boy weighed 15.5 pounds while his sister was 12.1 pounds, for a total of 27 pounds, 15 ounces combined.
Heaviest boy: 17 pounds, 11 ounces (2019)
A baby boy named Ali born in Bahrain 2019 is said to be the heaviest male twin on record, weighing in at 8.2 kg or 17 pounds, 11 ounces. His twin sister was only 4.1 kg, a major size difference.
Heaviest girl: 17 pounds, 7 ounces (2014)
Annie Jen Abigail of Canada holds the record for the heaviest female twin. She was born in 2014, weighing a massive 17 pounds, 7 ounces while her brother was just over 7 pounds.
What causes babies to grow so big?
So what leads to babies packing on far more pounds than normal in the womb? Here are some of the main factors that can result in exceptional large birth weights.
Maternal obesity
If an expectant mother is severely overweight or obese, it raises the risk of delivering a macrosomic baby. Excess maternal fat cells can lead to higher glucose and insulin in the womb, stimulating overgrowth.
Gestational diabetes
Uncontrolled gestational diabetes, or diabetes arising during pregnancy, can also overstimulate fetal growth. When a mother’s blood sugar levels are chronically high, it causes excess glucose to cross the placenta leading to big babies.
Genetics
The genetic makeup inherited from parents plays a role too. Babies born to mothers who were macrosomic at birth or have family histories of bigger babies are more likely to be large themselves.
Prolonged gestation
Babies that go significantly past their due date have extra time to pack on pounds in utero. At 42 weeks gestation, they may weigh 4 or more pounds more than at 40 weeks.
Multiples
Though twins or triplets tend to be smaller, some exceptionally heavy multiples like the cases described have made headlines. Having 2-3 babies sharing nutrition in the womb can lead to rapid growth.
Long-term impacts of heavy birth weight
Does being born extremely large have any lasting effects on health and development? Research shows that it can influence babies both in the short and long term.
Higher infant mortality
Very heavy babies have an increased risk of early death during infancy compared to normal weight infants. Breathing problems, birth injuries, and complications are more common.
Childhood obesity
Babies large at birth often continue growing rapidly, making them more prone to childhood obesity. Excess fat cells in utero can persist after delivery.
Gestational diabetes as adult
Large babies have a higher likelihood of developing gestational diabetes themselves when pregnant due to shared genetics and fat cells.
Type 2 diabetes
Being heavy at birth raises the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes as an adult. Insulin resistance stemming from bigger size can persist.
Early puberty
Macrosomia has been linked to reaching puberty at a younger age. Fat cells excess can impact hormones that influence growth and maturation.
Conclusion
While the true heaviest newborn in history is unclear, babies exceeding standard birth weights by over 10 pounds or even 20 pounds certainly make the record books. However, extreme macrosomia does come with health risks for both mother and child that need to be managed by obstetricians. With proper medical care and a little extra baby-holding endurance, even the biggest bundles can grow into happy, healthy toddlers.