Babies are the miracle of life. They come in all different shapes and sizes and every child is a blessing.
And this baby is quite a miracle. Willow Amey is a newborn weighing in at 14.5 lbs (6.6 kg). This makes her currently the largest baby in Victoria, Australia. Usually, the average baby born in Australia weighs around 7.6 lbs (3.5 kg). That’s almost double the amount!
For these ecstatic parents, Melis and her partner, Ben, this isn’t their first rodeo having a large baby. Their first daughter was born a larger-than-average size as well, coming in at 12.3 lbs! One of the most impressive details about this birth is that Willow was born naturally.
No c-sections over here!
Maoama Ala was originally the largest child born in Victoria in 2018. This sweet boy came in weighing at 13.8 lbs (16.3) kg at the time of birth. Opposite to Melis, Teu Ala had the boy via c-section
“Once (Teu) knew we were expecting such a big baby, she did decide for an elective Caesar, which is a sensible option,” her obstetrician, Lauren De Luca, told Perth Now.
Deciding to give birth to a larger baby naturally has its risks. According to Dr. Kristin Atkins, a specialist in maternal and fetal medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, she states that bigger does not necessarily mean better.
For example, when giving birth to a baby weighing over 10 lbs, there are several risks to consider. For example, the child’s shoulders can become trapped under the mother’s pelvic bones which can lead to damage to the neck, collarbone, or arms. In general, larger babies could potentially need help breathing due to their thick heart muscles and run the risk of brain damage and jaundice.
In addition, these babies have an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome later in life. This is because a baby’s size is often linked to the mother’s blood sugar levels. Thus, a mother with diabetes is more likely to have a larger child. So when their child is born, their source of fuel is cut off. As a result, they need to be monitored more closely.
Luckily for Melis and Teu Ala, their babies were born in good health.
Teu Ala said about the health of her son, “The main thing was not his size, but he was coming out healthy and happy.”
Although this isn’t Melis and Ben’s first bigger child, the couple is still in awe.
“I was like, oh no!” Melis told 7News Melbourne.
Even her mother in law was surprised when seeing her newborn granddaughter.
“She’s huge. Absolutely huge.”
Melis and Ben are taking every day as it comes. She even joked around that Willow might be fitting into her older sister’s diapers pretty soon. She even said she’ll be able to wear her older sister’s clothes very soon. I mean she’s already fitting into clothing made for a three-month-old child.
Naturally, folks had things to say about the birth of baby Willow Amey. Many of whom shared their own large baby stories.
“My grandma’s sister was 20lb born and my grandma came in at a close 19lb. Born in 1901. We still have big babies in the family but not that big!”
“Both my girls are born over 10.5 lbs delivered normally but this one is ready for kinder lol”
“Sam DeMachine Wow just reminded me of my poor mama and my birth at 15 lbs … God bless the little girl and her family.”
The good news is Melis and her baby are well and currently at home. Watch the family’s story below and see it for yourself!
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