All any expectant parent longs for is a healthy baby. The nine-month journey culminating in the awaited arrival of a little miracle with a beckoning cry, all 10 fingers and toes intact, weighing anywhere between 2,5 and 4 kg. However, apart from pure bliss, a Strand mother is overcome with gratitude and joy after welcoming to the world a bouncing baby just shy of 6 kg.
Sercor Park resident Susie Pedro gave birth to a 5,5 kg boy at Helderberg Hospital in Somerset West last Thursday (20 July). The proud second-time mom recalls being surprised by the whopping weight of her son Franklin, who is believed to be the biggest baby to be born at the medical facility.
“We were all pleasantly surprised! My husband and I as well as theatre staff just couldn’t believe it. My gynaecologist, Dr Brink, and his team captured the moment on camera and the photo truly says it all.”
While Pedro lived with diabetes and was aware the chronic disease is often said to be the cause of larger babies, she said they had never anticipated the infant’s jaw-dropping birth-weight. She said about a month before Franklin was born via Caesarean section at a gestational age of 38 weeks and six days, his estimated weight according to a doctor’s scan was 3,5 kg. “We knew he would be a relatively big baby, but were absolutely shocked at his rapid growth in mere weeks leading up to his arrival,” the doting mother shares.
Pedro said the momentous occasion came after around three months of battling immense discomfort, which resulted in sleeplessness and her lying awake from the stroke of three o’clock every morning. Such challenges she simply attributed to the age-old adage that “every pregnancy is different”, which it indeed was compared to her previous pregnancy with daughter, Faithlin, who was also born via C-section. The toddler celebrated her third birthday with a special party at Spur on Saturday (22 July) and a surprise introduction to her newest sibling who along with Pedro was discharged on the day. But the initial introduction didn’t exactly pan out as Pedro had hoped, both siblings were in tears, crying.
Now, Faithlin is a doting big sister eager to help mom with her little brother.
“It is just unbelievable that my body achieved this,” an incredulous Pedro declared. “He came out of me. Amazing!”
She said her little one had skipped newborn-sized “babygros” and fitted right into three-to-six-months clothing, which was problematic during their hospital stay, and resulted in mom having to cut the sleeves of his tops and vests off to allow for extra room.
However, there are many pros thanks to his weight, which makes him easier to manage and just one irresistibly cute chubby-cheeked baby ready to be mollycoddled.
Right now the Pedro family of four are enjoying the new addition together and the privilege and joy of raising their “future rugby star”.
“If God can allow him to make history with simply his arrival as one of the biggest babies born at Helderberg Hospital then he is surely meant for big things,” says Pedro.
