Florida mother delivers 13-pound, 15-ounce son in hospital record birth
Baby Annan was born by C-section at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South and weighed nearly twice the average newborn; mother had gestational diabetes
RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A Florida woman gave birth to a 13-pound, 15-ounce baby boy on Sept. 3 in what hospital officials described as a record-setting delivery at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South.
Daniella Hines, 40, said she felt unusual pressure and pain during the C-section and was surprised when nurses showed her the newborn, whom she named Annan. "I remember thinking, 'What are they pulling out of me? What is going on here?'" Hines told TODAY. She said the delivery felt different from the birth of her older son, who weighed 12 pounds, 11 ounces.
Hospital staff posted photos of the infant on the facility’s Facebook page and called him a "miracle," saying he may be the biggest baby ever delivered at the Riverview hospital. Hines, an entrepreneur, said she credits her and her husband’s six-foot stature for their son’s size and noted that Annan "was the talk of the maternity ward." She said the newborn is "really chill" until hunger strikes and that the family looks forward to watching him grow. "It’s just more to love. I can’t wait to show him when he gets older: 'Look you were in the news!'" she said.
Medical professionals commonly classify birth weights above roughly 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams) as macrosomic. Macrosomia is associated with an increased risk of delivery complications for both mothers and infants; clinicians often consider delivery method and timing to reduce those risks. Gestational diabetes, which Hines said she was diagnosed with during pregnancy, is among the factors that can increase the likelihood of larger-than-average newborns.
The average newborn in the United States weighs about 7.5 pounds (3.4 kilograms), making Annan’s nearly 14-pound weight well above typical birth weights. Large newborns can raise concerns such as shoulder dystocia, increased likelihood of cesarean delivery, and additional monitoring for blood sugar and breathing problems after birth. St. Joseph’s Hospital-South did not immediately provide additional medical details about the delivery beyond its social media post.
Hospital records and social media posts have drawn public attention to unusually large births in the past. Guinness World Records cites a 1955 case in Italy of a baby weighing 22 pounds as the heaviest on record. While extremely large newborns capture public interest, clinicians emphasize individualized care based on maternal health, fetal size estimates, and other clinical factors.
Hines, a mother of two, said the family is adjusting to life with their new son and plans to celebrate the arrival. Photographs shared by the hospital show Annan swaddled and placed on a scale. The family said they were grateful for the delivery team and the support they received at the hospital.
