This Incredible Mom Gave Birth To A 15-Pound Baby

After struggling with infertility, a 31-year-old mom in New York has given birth to a 15-pound baby girl. Baby Harper weighed 15 pounds, 15 ounces at birth, making her the largest baby born at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, in the last 30 years.

Her mom, Joy Buckley, underwent a planned C-section on March 12. It took at least two, possibly three, doctors and a medical vacuum to deliver her daughter.

“I felt like I was hit by two tractor-trailers,” Buckley told the New York Post. “It was pretty violent. She got stuck under my ribcage.”

You can see a photo of baby Harper on Buckley’s Facebook page:

Several years ago, Buckley was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and was told that she only had a 15 percent chance of getting pregnant naturally. So, Buckley and her husband decided to adopt their first child, a daughter named Heaven. They were then surprised when they became pregnant with their son, Chase, in 2016.

Although not as big as his sister, Chase was 11 pounds when he was born, also significantly bigger than the average baby. A typical baby weighs between 5.5 and 10 pounds at birth, but there have been a number of extra-large babies born in recent years. In Texas, a 16-pound boy named JaMichael was born in 2016.

Buckley revealed that large babies run in both her and her husband’s families. She also reportedly has Type 2 diabetes, which has previously been linked to larger babies.

According to the Post, officials from the New York Health Department, the agency that tracks newborn baby weight data for the state, are currently looking into whether Harper is the largest baby in the state’s history. As of now, it still remains unclear whether a bigger baby has been born in the area or if Buckley will nab that title.

After she was born, Harper was placed in neonatal intensive care and was breathing with the help of an oxygen machine. However, she is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Buckley says that she is also recovering and is thrilled with her perfect daughter.

“We are so in awe of her,” she said to the Post. “We’ve been able to hold her. She’s got a pretty happy demeanor.”

Buckley also said that she hopes that Harper’s birth will give hope to other families struggling with infertility.

Congratulations to the entire Buckley family on the new addition!

Family & Parenting, Health, News, Parenting
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About the Author
Margeaux Baulch Klein
Margeaux Baulch Klein is a freelance writer and digital strategist based in Los Angeles. She has written for publications like the Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Bustle, and HelloGiggles, among others.

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