A MUM who broke records when she gave birth to an almost 13-pound baby has admitted she “didn’t think I’d survive” the pregnancy.
Shelby Martin welcomed son Cassian into the world via Caesarean section in July, with hospital staff “collectively gasping” when he came out.
Now, opening up about the birth for the first time, Shelby said she feared she wouldn’t survive the pregnancy, and the baby was “essentially popping my hip joint out of socket”.
“I didn’t think I was going to survive!” she told Today.
“As soon as they pulled him out, everyone in the operating room collectively gasped.
“They were absolutely shocked at his size.”
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While Shelby had initially hoped for a natural birth, she was told that a section was the best option because “there was a real risk he could get stuck during delivery” – which “changed everything”.
“I knew the safest choice was a C-section – and thankfully I had an amazing OBGYN and care team at TriStar Centennial who I trusted completely,” she added to People.
“We had a heads up that he was going to be big, but I would have never guessed almost 13 pounds.”
Shelby gave birth to Cassian – who weighed in at 5.8kg – on her 30th birthday, calling him the “greatest gift”.
But after the section, the baby had to stay in hospital for 10 days to have his glucose levels monitored, as they can be affected in bigger babies.
Following his birth, staff claimed he had broken records at the medical centre, as he was the biggest baby to be born at the hospital in three years.
Shelby previously went viral on social media when she shared snaps of her bump and the baby – with over 35 million views on her TikTok account @shlbmrtn.
In the first image, Shelby posed in her hospital gown, and wrote over the top: “When people talk about having a big baby, like I don’t know ball.
“But trust me… I know ball.”
The size of her baby left so many stunned that over 50,000 people took to the comments to share their reaction.
“I usually don’t advocate for ‘push presents‘, but girl, you better demand EVERYTHING,” one commented.
“Did he drive y’all home afterwards?” another joked.
The UK’s heaviest babies
THE heaviest baby recorded to be born in the UK is Guy Carr, who weighed 15lbs 8oz at birth in 1992.
Other big babies include George King, who was 15lbs 7oz when he was born in 2013.
While the appropriately named Alpha Stone Mitchell was 14lbs 15oz when he was born in 2021.
“Absolutely horrifying, thank you,” a third marvelled.
Cassian joins big brothers Jonah, seven, Waylon, eight, and nine-year-old Elijah.
