Minnesota Baby Weighs In At 15 Lbs., 6 Oz.

November 30, 2009 by Cathy Ribble
Filed under: News, Weird

Wendi and Michael Dolton welcomed the birth of their son Axel LaVerne three weeks early at a whopping 15 pounds, 6 ounces. The Minnesota newborn will probably have a hard time losing the Thanksgiving nickname “butterball turkey” already tagged by his family.

Wendi first learned that her baby was approximately 11 pounds on November 11. She returned for a follow-up ultrasound on November 16 and the baby’s weight was up to 13 pounds. She was scheduled for amniocentesis to check the baby’s lung development, but when the doctors discovered Wendi’s blood pressure was elevated, they immediately took her downstairs for delivery.

Big babies seem to run in the genes for this family. Wendi was a 10-pound baby herself. Doctors had to break both of her shoulders to complete her delivery. Wendi has been diagnosed as borderline diabetic, but maintained her blood sugar levels throughout her pregnancy. She had been placed on a form of the diabetic medication glyburide, but the medication level was reduced during the last month of her pregnancy because Wendi’s blood sugar levels were dropping too low. She was experiencing shaking and sweating.

The average Minnesota baby weighs 7 pounds. Axel’s family was featured on the Weekend Today show, filming from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Axel’s big sisters were also large babies with Naomi weighing 9 pounds and Emma at 11 pounds.

The family is relieved their little “butterball” is finally out of the oven and will hopefully be home soon. Axel remains in the NICU, but is off oxygen. He has been getting breast milk through a feeding tube, but breastfeeding is being introduced. Best wishes to the happy family and here’s hoping and praying Axel is home soon!