Yes, you read that right. We said a 7kg baby. Not a 7 pound baby. 7 KILOS. 7kg of adorable squishiness that will no doubt be the apple of her parent’s eyes. But damn, that’s a big apple!
Harper arrived earthside in New York weighing in at 7.03kg. She’s taken the record as the largest baby born at Arnot Odgen Medical Center and may possibly hold the record for the biggest baby born in the state of New York too.
Go Harper!
While mum, Joi Buckley, admits that Harper’s birth wasn’t the most pleasant experience, she is so overjoyed to finally have her baby in her arms. According to People, Joi struggled with infertility for years before welcoming Harper.
Joi and her husband were told they had less than a 15 percent chance of becoming pregnant. They decided to adopt a daughter and soon after Joi unexpectedly became pregnant. She gave birth to her son, who weighed in at an impressive 5 kg, three years ago.
She then discovered she was pregnant again, this time with Harper.
The thing I’ve always wanted to do in my life is being a mom, and finding out the first time I was overjoyed, and the second time I was like, I’m going to be a mom to three kids now,” she said. “It was something I’ve always wanted to do.”
‘It was pretty violent’
Of course, delivering a 7kg baby isn’t going to be a walk in the park. And Joi admits it was horrendous.
I felt like I was hit by two tractor-trailers. It was pretty violent. She got stuck under my ribcage.”
Harper spent some time in the NICU but is home with the family now. And Joi is healing well.
I’m so relieved to be done feeling that [physical] pressure,” she said.
Girl, we feel ya! What a massive effort and a beautiful reward at the end.
Joi also has a message to anyone who is struggling with infertility.
Don’t give up because it’s right there. It’s definitely right there, because my kids are total proof of that.”
Record-breaking Aussie-born babies
Check out a few more big babies breaking records, all born in Australia.
Remi: NSW mum Emma Millar gave birth to her not-so-little lady Remi Frances Millar via emergency cesarean at 38 weeks gestation. That’s right – this little sweetie was actually early! She weighed in at an eye-watering 5.88 kg. READ MORE
Willow: Willow Amey is another impressive bundle of baby sweetness. The Victorian bub, born in March 2020, tipped the scales at an impressive 6.6kg and could possibly be the biggest baby born in Victoria. EVER! READ MORE
Maisie: Maisie Lily is another record-breaker, weighing in at 6.023kg. She is the biggest baby born at Rockhampton Hospital in Queensland and her birth, back in 2017, made headlines across Australia, especially her dad’s cheeky Facebook post announcing her arrival. READ IT HERE
Brian: Rounding out our big baby round-up is Victorian newborn Brian Liddle Jr weighing in at 6.08kg. His superstar mum birthed her son naturally using only gas for pain relief and “positive thoughts”. Go mum! READ MORE
