A woman who gave birth to an absolute unit of a baby has revealed the truth of the delivery.
30-year-old Shelby Martin was planning the birth of her fourth child and had a very clear idea of what she wanted to happen, including skin-to-skin contact with her baby immediately after birth.
However, when she was 36 weeks pregnant, Shelby and partner Joshua Thomas, 27, were told that the baby on the way was absolutely massive and a C-section was going to be the safest option because there was 'a real risk he could get stuck during delivery'.
Speaking to People, the mum explained that she 'grieved the loss of her perfect birth plan' but she trusted the staff at TriStar Centennial Women’s Hospital, even if the birth wouldn't go exactly how she'd pictured.
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On 29 July, she gave birth to son Cassian, who weighed in at 12 pounds and 14 ounces, the biggest baby the hospital had delivered for years.
"We had a heads up that he was going to be big, but I would have never guessed almost 13 pounds. Looking back on bump pictures, I probably should have known," the mum said of her massive son.
The Tennessee mum also told Today that at one point she 'didn’t think she was going to survive', and her physical therapist later told her 'he was essentially popping my hip joint out of socket'.
While she might have had her heart set on a vaginal birth, she reckons the right decision was made in the end since 'everyone in the operating room collectively gasped' when they first saw baby Cassian.
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Shelby said she was nervous to get her first C-section, but it all went by well, and when the hospital staff realised what a ginormous infant they had on their hands, lots of people came for a look.
She said: "Everyone was amazed by his size! He made such a big impression that nurses and doctors from all over the hospital came by the NICU just to meet him.
"He quickly became a little celebrity during his stay. Every time we visited, someone from the care team was already snuggling him.
"They truly adored him, and as a first-time NICU mom, that meant everything to me. Knowing he was so loved and cared for brought me so much comfort."
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While he's almost 13lbs and a really massive baby, not-so-little Cassian was outdone recently by a baby who weighed 13 pounds and 15 ounces.
Last month, Florida mum Daniella Hines wondered, 'what are they pulling out of me' when she was giving birth to baby Annan, who was roughly twice the weight of the average newborn.
These mums should get a medal.
Joe Harker