Idowu
Shelby Martin, a mother from the U.S., made headlines after delivering one of the heaviest newborns in recent memory.
The 30-year-old gave birth to her son Cassian, weighing an astonishing 13 pounds, in July.
In an interview with People, Shelby shared that she had hoped for a natural birth, emphasizing her desire for immediate skin-to-skin bonding.
But medical professionals advised a cesarean section due to the baby’s exceptional size.
‘The risk of him getting stuck during labor was too high—it wasn’t worth the gamble,’ she recalled.
‘My incredible OBGYN and the team at TriStar Centennial guided me through the safest option.’
Already a mother of three, Shelby was warned during pregnancy that Cassian would be larger than average—but nothing prepared her for his final weight.
‘We knew he’d be big, but nearly 13 pounds? That took me by surprise,’ she admitted.
‘Now, when I see photos of my bump, the clues were all there.’
Speaking with Today, Shelby confessed she doubted she’d make it through the pregnancy.
‘My physical therapist told me his position was literally pushing my hip out of place,’ she revealed.
The moment Cassian was born, the delivery room erupted in disbelief.
‘When they lifted him out, the entire surgical team gasped,’ Shelby recounted.
‘His size left everyone speechless.’
Following his birth, Cassian spent 10 days in the NICU to stabilize his glucose levels before finally going home.
His arrival marked a bittersweet milestone for Shelby and her husband Joshua, coming a year after they experienced a miscarriage.
‘He’s the rainbow we prayed for,’ Shelby reflected emotionally.
‘Our hearts still ache for the baby we lost, but Cassian’s presence has healed us in ways we never expected. His older brothers adore him.’
Grace Effiong
