A mum gave birth naturally to one of the biggest babies midwives at the birthing unit had seen in years.
Paula Brown’s baby boy was expected to be larger than average and it had caused a bit of a stir in the birthing unit - a midwife even cancelled her dentist appointment so she could see the birth.
Theo Brown came into the world on 6 September weighing 12lb 4 1/2 oz.
After seeing the size of their newborn, Theo’s parents had to ditch the babywear they’d purchased and go and buy three- to six-month-old clothes instead.
“It was not pleasant,” said Brown, 33, from Lancashire. “It was hard work and tiring but the end result of it all is just fantastic.”
Theo John James Brown was born at Blackburn Birthing Centre. He was initially kept in hospital due to an infection brought on by jaundice but is now at home.
His dad Gareth Brown, 32, said birthing staff told the couple it was the “biggest baby they’d seen for around five years”.
“They said it was the biggest baby out of the last 4,500,” he said. “Everybody is doing fine now, Theo is home and well.
“He’s absolutely brilliant. Our youngest daughter Rose who is five especially just absolutely loves him.”
The family said they had been guessing what weight the baby would come in at, with their two previous children weighing in at 9lb 3oz and 9lb 8oz respectively.
Theo’s 14-year-old step-sister Milly Mayor, who cut the cord at the birth, weighed a fraction of her brother’s size at a tiny 6lb 11oz.
“We were all making guesses at what weight the baby would come in, but nobody was expecting that,” added the dad.
“The midwives hadn’t seen anything like it. All of the staff at the birthing centre were absolutely fantastic with us, we can’t thank them enough.
“Everyone at the Burnley hospital was great as well. It was strange, most of the babies there were tiny and Theo was huge.”
Theo does not take the title of Britain’s biggest baby delivered naturally. That is thought to belong to baby George from Gloucester born in February 2013 who weighed an impressive 15lb 7oz.