A family from Cambridge, Ontario, had an astonishing and heartwarming experience when they welcomed their fifth child, Sonny Ayres, into the world last month. Born via Caesarean section at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on October 23, Sonny’s remarkable birth weight was a staggering 14 pounds and 8 ounces, almost twice the average birth weight for full-term babies according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chance Ayres, the proud father, described the moment as “mind-blowing” and likened the celebration in the delivery room to the jubilation of a sports championship victory, with doctors and nurses cheering the incredible birth. This significant birth weight exceeded all expectations, especially considering that two of Sonny’s siblings had already been born over 13 pounds.
Dr. Asa Ahimbisibwe, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Cambridge Memorial Hospital who had previously delivered three of Britteney Ayres’ children, was amazed by Sonny’s size. While they expected a large baby due to Britteney’s history, the actual birth weight left everyone in the operating room astonished.
The Guinness Book of World Records acknowledges the heaviest birth on record as 22 pounds, but this record dates back to 1879. In modern times, Sonny’s birth weight of 14 pounds and 8 ounces undoubtedly turned heads among the hospital staff. A search of the provincial perinatal, newborn, and child registry revealed that Sonny’s birth weight was the largest at the hospital since 2010.
Factors contributing to a baby’s exceptional size typically include genetics, post-dates (being born later than the due date), and uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy. In this case, Britteney Ayres did not have diabetes, but genetics seem to have played a substantial role in Sonny’s remarkable birth weight.
The Ayres family, consisting of children ranging in age from 6 to the newborn Sonny, is now settling into their daily routine at home, where the older siblings are overjoyed to have their new brother with them. The family is embracing the joy and challenges of raising their “fab five,” with Sonny’s extraordinary birth adding a unique and heartwarming chapter to their family’s story.
Parents welcome 14-pound baby, the largest on record since 2010: Everybody was making bets #CanadaHealth #CanadaHealth #CDNNews #Health [Video] Brittany and Chance Ayres from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, have welcomed a 14-pound baby, Sonny, to their… https://t.co/Qq7VVt7Nct
— Abigail Mercer (@AbigailMCND) November 7, 2023
