Bringing a child into the world is the most rewarding and wonderful experience in any mother’s life. But mothers also know that labor can be excruciatingly painful. However, one woman chose to forgo pain relief, yet she gave birth to a baby boy weighing a whopping 12 pounds 6 ounces (approx. 5.6 kg).
Nikki Bell, 28, gave birth to a “chunky” baby boy at Blacktown Hospital in West Sydney on Nov. 1, 2018, and doctors were shocked.
Parker Bell was the heaviest baby ever to be born at the hospital, Daily Mail reported. He weighed more than double what newborns normally weigh—which is between 5 pounds 8 ounces (approx. 2.5 kg) and 8 pounds 13 ounces (approx. 4 kg).
Nikki did remarkably well, we have to admit. She requested no pain relief during her labor, which lasted 2.5 hours. This is good, considering that some mothers suffer labor pains for as long as 15 hours.
Pethidine, epidurals, or nitrous oxide are usually the options mothers may choose from to help them cope with the pain. Yet, Nikki gave birth au natural without complications.
Even though Nicki didn’t take pain relief, she knows how painful labor pains can be. She told The Mirror, “I’m sure all births hurt, whether it’s 1.7kg or 5.7kg—they all hurt.”
Being the mother of an adorable little girl named Maddison, Nikki is pleased to be blessed with a boy.
Blacktown Midwifery Group Facebook page shared a post praising Nikki and Parker, saying:
Mothers from all around responded online by lauding Nikki’s brave efforts.
One mom wrote, “Women’s bodies are amazing! Well done first and foremost to the mummy but also to the birthing staff that helped this mummy do her job and allow her body to do its thing!”
Another mom wrote encouragingly, “This little cutie weighs more than my twins put together at almost a month old.”
Back home at Riverstone in Sydney’s northwest, the family of four is happy to say they view Parker’s weight as an advantage—he may turn out to be very strong.
“Hopefully, he will be a bit of a football player, maybe a front rower, that’ll keep his dad happy,” Nikki joked.
In the meantime, the Bell family are simply enjoying family life, and Maddison is in her element playing the role of “big sister.”
