This is topic Woman gives birth to giant baby in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :
 
Link

quote:
A woman in northeastern Brazil has given birth to what one doctor called a "giant baby," a boy weighing 16.7 pounds (7.57 kg).

Holy cow!!!
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
Yikes!
 
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
 
Good Lord [Eek!]
 
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
 
[Eek!]
 
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
That kid weighs six pounds less than my two-year-old.
 
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
Whoa.
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
Did it overcook?

How does something like that happen?
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I'd bet a paycheck that the mother had gestational diabetes.
 
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
 
I was thinking it had to be something like that, CT. That kind of thing just doesn't happen on its own.
 
Posted by Uhleeuh (Member # 6803) on :
 
This article says she does indeed have diabetes.
 
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
Too much baking powder, Ralphie.
 
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
 
I'd be interested to see how long he was, too.

They seem to be concerned with his blood sugar level being low. Is that also a side effect of his mother having diabetes, or merely a problem of metabolizing enough food since he is so much larger than most neonates?

[ January 20, 2005, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Amka ]
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Did they name him Fezzik?
 
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
Look at him. He can't lay straight in the hospital baby bed. He's kinda crooked in there.
 
Posted by Beanny (Member # 7109) on :
 
Maybe the mother drank a whole bottle of Skele-Gro before giving birth.

Responsibility, people!
 
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
 
Holy frijole!

I can't imagine carrying a baby that big! Mine were all between 7-1 and 7-5, and I always felt really cramped by the time they were born.
 
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
quote:
Holy cow!!!
Mooo.

My hat is off to that lady. I can't imagine carrying around a 17lb person inside of me 24/7. [Eek!]
 
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
Yikes!! That must have been one uncomfortable pregnancy.

How does gestational diabetes cause a large fetus?
 
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
 
I had a baby a month ago and she weighed 5lbs 14.5 oz. That boy is huge! The pour mother. I hope everything turns out well.

[ January 20, 2005, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: whiskysunrise ]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
quote:
They seem to be concerned with his blood sugar level being low. Is that also a side effect of his mother having diabetes, or merely a problem of metabolizing enough food since he is so much larger than most neonates?
.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes (especially if poorly controlled) have been in a high blood sugar and high insulin level environment during development. Their bodies adjust to this, and then suddenly the sugar tube (i.e., umbilical cord) gets removed. Takes about 24 hours for some of them to reach a new equilibrium.
 
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
But somewhere there is a giant trying to diaper a 7.7 lb. boy with tweezers and a jewelers loupe. Stupid stork.
 
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
 
Owwwwwwwwww.
 
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
 
Wow, that's amazing, although for a second there I thought it was a dedication thread to Christy. It's all about proportions, after all.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Ouch. Mine was 8 lb. 2 oz., and that's plenty! Of course, my sister-in-law had a 9 lb., 15 oz. little girl, and my mother-in-law never had one under 9 lb., 2.
 
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
I think I once heard on NPR that the biggest newborn ever was 24 lbs, and born in the 19th century.

So, you know, it could be worse. [Smile]
 
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
quote:
Stupid stork.
That poor stork now has chronic back problems. Please don't speak ill of him.
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
Can you say "gestational diabetes"?
 
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
Well, CT, Uhleeuh, and Shigosei can. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
 
Woops. Sorry, I should read before I post.
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
So, basically, the kid was on an all-sugar diet while it was baking?

(i r slo. use smawl werds.)
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
No worries, Rabbit. Great minds and all. [Smile]

Sort of, Ralphie. The basic physiology is that women with GDM have insulin receptors that are somewhat resistant. Those receptors would usually respond to insulin by opening up the gates to let glucose into the various tissues.

But in the mom with GDM, there has to be a whole bunch more insulin floating around before the receptors get triggered. That means a whole bunch more glucose has to be around to stimulate the production of that much insulin. Her body kinda sets the thermostat extra high all around.

Now, the baby generally has normal insulin receptors (at least while it is developing), so it is constantly being bombarded with lots of sugar, and thus lots of insulin, and the floodgates are therefore always wide open.

Essentially, it's like sucking down pixie sticks for 9 months. [Smile]

There are probably a lot of different things that happen -- e.g., babies of diabetic mothers not only are generally more weighty, but they also have a different body type. They are like burly, broad-shouldered football players in full uniform. In most babies, the head is the biggest part, so if that gets through, then you can be confident that the rest of the baby can be delivered through the vagina as well. With IDMs (infants of diabetic mothers), the shoulders can be the biggest part (not sure why, but there it is), so there is a very real chance of the baby getting stuck with its head on the outside and the rest trapped in, unable to squeeze out.

[edited for clarity]

[ January 20, 2005, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
::nods::

Thanks for the explanation. [Smile]

(Getting stuck. That just has to suck for everyone involved.)
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
That's why mothers are watched very carefully and induced a little early if necessary, or delivered by c-section.

At least, if they're getting adequate prenatal care, in this country.
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
Still, the very idea...

Adoption looks more attractive all the time. I mean, if I WERE to get my heart set on ruining some poor human being with my inept care.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Oh, come on, it's not that bad. And most mothers don't get GD.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Shall I tell you about my tailbone that still hasn't healed, though? They all told me the pain was "normal" and I'd "get over it", and I was too tired to argue. It's 9 1/2 mos. later, and it still hurts... [Frown]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
So long as people are prepared for it, the delivery can still be fairly routine. Just requires some extra preparation and extra monitoring afterwards, most times.

And, it's worth noting that the better the control of glucose levels during pregnancy, the fewer side effects on the fetus. Good reason for good prenatal care all around.

[kq: after I broke my tailbone, it took about 6 years to feel mostly normal again. I still get twinges occasionally, but now -- 7 yrs later -- I mostly don't notice it.]

[ January 20, 2005, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Yes. Here's to prenatal care!
 
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
 
Did they X-ray it? If it healed wrong, it can continue to be painful.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I was on Medicaid for the pregnancy due to my insurance refusing to cover it, and now am uninsured. No one did anything, and they didn't listen to me when I said it hurt.
 
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
 
Ralphie, it's one of the coolest experiences ever. Seriously. I really think men are the unlucky ones. Even when it sucks being pregnant, it's still cool. There's nothing like it. And it's over fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things.

After I had my son, I knew I was tough. I'd had a kid. After that, if I mashed my toe or was sick with the flu, I could look myself in the mirror and say "Hey, I had a kid. If I can do that, I can make it through this." [Smile]

'Course, my kids were both under 8lbs. So I'm half as tough as this gal.
 
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
 
The problem, ketchupqueen, is there really isn't all that much they can do about broken tailbones. My sister fell once on her bike, and somehow landed with her tailbone directly on a pedal. They X-rayed her, said "Yup, its broken" and told her to be careful sitting down.

Same with ribs. Unless something is seriously out of place, there really is nothing to do. I'm pretty sure I broke a rib once, but after talking to the nurse didn't bother to have it checked. They would have treated it the same way broken or not.

Sorry. [Frown]
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I've found some PT type things that help some; also, walking while pushing the baby in a certain stroller we have helps. When I do it for a week, I feel better. But it's still very painful; I worry about the next pregnancy and delivery.
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
quote:
Ralphie, it's one of the coolest experiences ever. Seriously. I really think men are the unlucky ones. Even when it sucks being pregnant, it's still cool. There's nothing like it. And it's over fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things.
I think it's really cool when other people have kids, and I very much admire them for what I know must be a hella lotta work. But I'm inching ever closer to thirty all the time, and I still don't have any desire to have kids.

Maybe it was something they fed us as kids. Even my sister - who did have a kid - didn't really want any more afterward.

(I secretly believe our DNA is screaming to our subconscious: "This gene pool MUST STOP HERE!")

[ January 20, 2005, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
[er, what Amka said. *sheepish look ]

Unfortunately, there is no way to "set" a broken tailbone, like there is to stabilize and set a broken arm. The tailbone is at the nexus of most of the muscles of the pelvic floor (the tailbone is the light purple triangle in the bottom center), and so it is constantly being tugged on from many different directions. Even if you were on bedrest for a year, every sneeze or cough or bowel movement could potentially offset it.

I never had mine X-rayed because there was nothing we would have done differently. If I still was in marked pain after a couple of years, I would have -- but the option would have been to rebreak it and hope it reset okay. (*ouch!) Seemed like as long as it was getting better, no matter how slowly, it was worth hanging on.

Man, though, those suckers take forever to heal.

[ January 20, 2005, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
The thing that ticks me off is that I had to find this out through my own research because a whole team of doctors and nurses at the hospital ignored me when I tried to tell them that it wasn't the other part that hurt, it was my rear end.
 
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
 
I don't compare much to this kid, but I was 11 lb 7 oz at birth.
 
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
 
Oh, Ralphie, I didn't mean to come off as "you should have one". I do respect not wanting to have kids. Even though you would make beautiful babies. [Smile] Dark hair, big eyes.

But the world is better off with a happy Ralphie, babies or no babies.
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I'm sorry, kq. [Frown]
 
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 
quote:
I do respect not wanting to have kids.
Oh, I know Jeni! I didn't mean to imply I felt pressure, or anything. I was reflecting on how obviously special it was to you, and musing over my complete lack of desire which, I think at my age, is not entirely normal.

But thank you for being so considerate to clarify. [Smile]
 
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
 
I'm late to the thread, but I just gotta say that this...
quote:
Did it overcook?
...made me laugh out loud in a quiet computer lab and get some very odd looks.

Oh, and mph, my first thought was, "Hey! They could call him Fezzik! or, you know, Andre..."
 
Posted by BotaLadyG (Member # 7053) on :
 
that kid was huge!!! man and I thought I had a large baby!!

a little background ... my mom had all 8 pound plus babies, so I kinda knew that I had that possibility in my genetics (besides that I am 6' tall and my father is 6'6" tall ... we's a big family tree...lol)

now my first baby was only 7 pounds and 10 1/2 ounces, you know pretty average (I did smoke lightly while I was preggers with her *yeah I know BAD mommy*, but she came out very healthy and has developed perfectly)

My second baby however was HUGE IMO!! He was 10 pounds 4 ounces!! (I quit smoking when i got pregnant this time *less stress in my life this time made it easier*) I broke family records with him! *and even tho I wanted an epidural I didn't have time to get it, so he came out natural... oddly enough his delivery hurt less than my daughters did ... go figure [Eek!]

Oh well just wanted to share my "baby birth" story... [Blushing]

Nicole
 
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
 
Heh.

Mango and Banana combined weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces at birth!

This Brazilian baby is more than eight times Mango's birthweight!

[Eek!]
 
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
 
That's not a baby, that's a toddler!! [Eek!] [Razz]
 
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
 
quote:
"Obviously the baby was born by Caesarean section," hospital director Rita Leal said.
Whoooo. Yeah.
I think I was pretty well up there on the size scale when I was born. I was two weeks late and breech [Smile] Yeah. I was backward then, I'm backward now.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
i'm sorry, kq.
Oh, Sara, I'm sure if you had been my doctor, it wouldn't have happened. So don't feel bad. [Smile]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I'd like to think I could have diagnosed it, but you never know. Anyway, hope it keeps getting better.

[ January 21, 2005, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
 
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
quote:
There are probably a lot of different things that happen -- e.g., babies of diabetic mothers not only are generally more weighty, but they also have a different body type. They are like burly, broad-shouldered football players in full uniform. In most babies, the head is the biggest part, so if that gets through, then you can be confident that the rest of the baby can be delivered through the vagina as well. With IDMs (infants of diabetic mothers), the shoulders can be the biggest part (not sure why, but there it is), so there is a very real chance of the baby getting stuck with its head on the outside and the rest trapped in, unable to squeeze out.
I think this happened to my uncle. Gestational diabetes tends to run in my family, and I heard stories about when he was born the doctors had to break his shoulder bones so he could come out.

He's perfectly normal today, so he must have healed quickly.
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
Hmm, like Nicole I have a large family tree, and I'm 6'. As a newborn I was a 10 pounder, too. And I have diabetes.

I'm gonna have huge babies!! [Angst]
 


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