A mother in the U.S. has stunned doctors, nurses, and the entire internet after giving birth to a baby weighing an astonishing 13 pounds — one of the largest newborns ever delivered naturally. The extraordinary birth, which took place earlier this week at a hospital in Florida, is already being described by staff as “a delivery they’ll remember for the rest of their careers.”
The mom, 29-year-old Emily Carter, told NBC News she was in “utter shock” when doctors announced the weight of her newborn son. “I saw the nurse’s face when she put him on the scale and I knew something was different,” she said. “When they said 13 pounds, I honestly thought they were joking. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
According to her medical team, Emily gave birth vaginally after a grueling 19-hour labor. Doctors at Mayo Clinic say babies that size are extremely rare, with the average U.S. newborn weighing around 7.5 pounds. A 13-pound baby, they explained, is typically considered “off the charts” and usually delivered via C-section.
A Florida mom just delivered a 13-pound baby — one of the largest natural births in recent memory
@nbcnews
The delivery room erupted in disbelief as doctors announced the weight. One nurse told USA Today, “We all just looked at each other like, ‘Did that number really just come up?’ We had to double-check the scale. Twice.” Photos of the baby, who has already been nicknamed “Big Ben” by hospital staff, quickly spread online after the family gave permission for media coverage.
Emily said she had no idea her baby would be so large. “I gained about 30 pounds during the pregnancy, which isn’t unusual,” she told CNN. “Every ultrasound showed him as a healthy size, but nothing like this. When they placed him on my chest, I was like… this is a toddler, not a baby.”
Her husband, Jake Carter, described the moment as “pure chaos — and joy.” He told Fox News, “The room went silent for a second, and then everyone just started laughing and cheering. I was in tears. We’ll be telling this story for the rest of our lives.”
“When they placed him on my chest, I was like… this is a toddler, not a baby.” — Emily Carter @FoxNews
Doctors say Emily and her baby are both healthy and recovering well. “It’s rare to see a natural birth at this weight, and even rarer to see both mom and baby doing this well right away,” explained Dr. Melissa Rowe, an obstetrician who helped deliver the child. She told Reuters the newborn’s size is likely the result of a mix of genetics and gestational diabetes, which was closely monitored throughout Emily’s pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can contribute to larger babies, but experts caution that each case is unique. “Most large babies are still perfectly healthy,” said Dr. Rowe. “But deliveries of this size carry increased risks and need careful management. Emily was incredibly strong.”
News of the record-breaking birth spread like wildfire on social media, where users expressed a mix of awe, disbelief, and good-natured humor. “That baby came out ready for kindergarten,” one user joked on X, while another wrote, “I can’t even bench press 13 pounds — this mom is a superhero.”
“That baby came out ready for kindergarten.” — Viral reaction on X
@Reuters
Others were more emotional, calling the moment “beautiful” and praising Emily’s strength. “Women are warriors,” one commenter posted. “The human body is incredible.” The story quickly climbed trending lists across platforms, with thousands sharing well-wishes and baby name suggestions — many leaning toward “Hercules,” “Goliath,” and “Big Ben.”
Emily, meanwhile, says she’s just grateful her son is healthy. “We didn’t plan for him to be a record-breaker,” she told BBC News with a laugh. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. He’s perfect.”
According to hospital records cited by The New York Times, the baby’s birth weight is the largest ever recorded at that facility and among the top five nationally for natural births in the last decade. “It’s not every day you deliver a baby the size of a Thanksgiving turkey,” one nurse quipped.
“We didn’t plan for him to be a record-breaker — but I wouldn’t change a thing.” — Emily Carter @nytimes
Emily and Jake say they are already being flooded with diaper and clothing donations from strangers online, as most newborn clothes don’t fit their son. “We had to skip straight to 6-month sizes,” Jake joked. “Even the hospital hat barely fit.”
Experts say that while larger babies are increasingly common due to rising birth weights in the U.S., a 13-pound newborn is still exceptional. “This is something most doctors will only see once in their entire career,” Dr. Rowe added.
As the family adjusts to life with their new baby, Emily says the attention has been overwhelming but heartwarming. “I didn’t expect to go viral over my son’s size,” she said. “But I love that people are smiling because of him. He’s already bringing so much joy into the world.”