DES MOINES, IA (KCTV/CNN) -
A woman in Iowa is getting lots of attention after she gave birth to a baby boy that could be the largest child ever delivered naturally at the state's busiest birthing unit.
The 5,000 or so infants who arrive at Mercy Medical Center each year are precious and special, but this one is a big deal.
Like most second children, Asher's delivery is compared to the first child.
The first child, Judah, weighed in at a whopping 12 lbs., but Asher looked smaller on the ultrasound, and he took just over six hours of pushing.
"And when he came out we all thought he was smaller, and then we put him on the scale. We were very surprised, but he is three inches longer," said mother Kendall Stewardson.
Twenty-three and a half inches total in height, but the weight is what really got the nurses talking.
One nurse said it was amazing that they had a baby that big.
Thirteen pounds, 12 ounces to be exact.
What is more amazing is that Asher is au naturalle, meaning no surgery. And no drugs for the happy mother, not even an epidural during delivery.
"Whenever anybody hears about it, they're like 'oh my word! And she is kind of a hero,'" said Joshua Stewardson, the father.
Natural delivery carries risks for the mother, but Kendall took it in stride.
"Yeah. She is doing very well," said Stewardson.
There are risks to a baby born nine days past due and at such a large size.
"So, everyone like double takes when they see him, but for us it is pretty standard, and it wasn't much worse than probably most," said Stewardson. "And just to have two that had absolutely no issues, we are definitely very blessed that way."
The family says it was all worth it for their new little wonder.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) and CNN. All rights reserved.
All content ©Copyright 2000 - 2012, KCTV, Kansas City, MO.(A Meredith CorporationStation) and WorldNow. All rights reserved.
