I gave birth to one of the UK’s biggest babies – people say it can’t have been enjoyable but it was like being in a spa
A MUM who gave birth to one of the UK’s biggest babies says it was a very relaxing experience, despite the newborn weighing a whopping 12lbs 9oz.
Mum-of-three Ruth Harvey, 36, welcomed ‘chunky monkey’ Tabitha on February 28.
Tabitha was born two-and-a-half weeks late and was delivered at home – despite living ten minutes from a hospital.
She is already wearing baby clothes for tots aged three to six months.
Ruth even went to the library to look in the Guinness Book of World Records to find out what the record was – Guy Carr who weighed 15lb 8oz at his birth in 1992, followed by George King who tipped the scales at 15lb 7oz in 2013.
Hefty tot Alpha Stone Mitchell was Britain’s third largest new born when he arrived via Caesarean section on October 28, 2021 at John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, weighing 14lbs 15oz.
Ruth gave birth to Tabitha in a birthing pool at home in Dundonald, Ayrshire, with partner Eddie Gillan, 44, decking out the room with fairy lights – and the tot has spent just one hour in hospital since she was born.
Dad-of-three Eddie and a team of midwives encouraged Ruth during an eight-and-a-half hour labour while the kids were upstairs.
Ruth, who works as assistant service manager of a family support service, said: “Tabitha was born two-and-a-half weeks over her due date, she looked well cooked.
“I think I make big babies anyway. My other two were 9lbs 9oz and 10lbs 1oz.
“We know the team of midwives haven’t had a baby this big during a home birth.
“She’s a really big baby, a lot of people have commented but so far nobody has said their baby was bigger.
“I was looking in the Guinness Book of World Records.”
During the labour Ruth was given NHS-funded aromatherapy, and had acupuncture during pregnancy.
She was able to walk around the front room during labour before getting back in the birthing pool while she had contractions.
Fortunately the floor was laminate so it wasn’t too messy.
Siblings Ted, six, Brody, nine, who are Ruth’s kids from a previous relationship, and Eddie’s children Eva, 11, and Oliver, 13, got to listen to Tabitha’s heartbeat.
Ruth said: “It was like Call the Midwife, all the midwives were giving her kisses and cuddles.
“I gave birth in hospital before and we didn’t see the same person twice but we had a dedicated team of midwives and dealt with the same people the whole time.
“You can’t imagine giving birth to a 12lbs baby being an enjoyable experience, but it was.
“It was relaxed, I’m sure it was because I was at home.
“I was in the pool on my hands and knees, there’s a school of thought about how animals give birth in dark, calm environments.
Two of Ruth’s kids slept upstairs while she was in labour, only find their mum and new sister on the sofa after going out for breakfast the next morning.
“It was such a great experience, the midwives were phenomenal,” the mum said.
“When you are pregnant you aren’t ill, it’s a really natural experience to be growing a baby and bringing it into the world.
The recovery has been pretty fast for the mum, who is back doing the school run again.
“The aromatherapy and acupuncture, people think ‘oh god what is this hippy stuff’ but it’s great.
“These things are going to increase oxytocin, the happy hormone “Eddie put up fairy lights and we hired the birthing pool, we don’t have a carpet and we put down tarpaulin and towels.
“It was like being in a spa with aromatherapy oils and a hot pool.
“My daughter made birthing affirmations and Eddie got the room all ready.
“Ted, my six-year-old son was asking my parents ‘Why does mummy sound like a cow?’.
“I went in for scans but all the antenatal classes were done at home.
“Tabitha has only spent an hour in hospital.
“We had all four kids here and they got to listen to Tabitha’s heartbeat.
“That was really nice as well.
“We only live ten minutes from the hospital, it probably saves the NHS money.”