Mom and dad and doctors and nurses had a feeling the baby might be big.
They just didn’t know how big – until Joshua Louis-Hardy made an appearance into the world, Nov. 9 at Ridge Meadows Hospital.
Joshua, born to mom Debby Louis-Hardy, tipped the scales at 12 pounds even, about 50 per cent heavier than the average birth weight of about 7.5 pounds.
Debby already has three girls, and the last born, Bella was 9 lbs. 10 oz., when she was born.
During her last pregnancy, she could feel that Bella was heavier, but didn’t know Joshua would turn out so big.
“My 12-pounder, when they put him on my chest, I said, ‘Wow, I can feel that weight.’”
The hospital had guessed Joshua would weigh about 10 pounds. They expected him to be big because baby weight can increase with the number of children a mother has.
During the childbirth, Debby was worried that she might have to undergo a C-section. But as soon as Joshua’s head crowned, the birth became easier.
“Pudgy baby, two feet long. I think if I didn’t eat all that mayonnaise, I’m sure he’d be 10 or 11 pounds.”
Debby said her husband John told her “the doctor’s eyeballs were coming out of his head” when he saw the baby.
When they were trying to estimate the size, hospital staff were asking Debby how many kids she already has. She has three girls: Charity, 7; Joy, 4; and Bella, 2, also born Nov. 9.
Debby said during the pregnancy, “mayonnaise and eggs were the only thing that would settle my stomach and make me feel better. I’ve never had so many eggs in my entire life.”
Debby and Joshua had to stay in the hospital for a few days, but both are now back home doing well. Joshua didn’t cry when they were giving him needles while he was in the hospital.
“He eats, sleeps and poops – and cries if I don’t move fast enough.”
Debby said babies born big don’t always grow into big adults.
She and her husband are both about 5’8”.
She’s not sure if she’ll have any more children, although her husband was talking about having one more.
“I was like, ‘Did you hear what I said when I was giving birth? I said I wanted to die. That’s how painful it was. No.’
“Especially, me noticing that they are all getting bigger as they go.”