Dorisha Rodriguez of Rochester, New York, gave birth to a baby girl weighing 14 pounds and one ounce, a size described by medical staff as among the largest they have delivered. The newborn, Yemaya India Soto, arrived on June 9. The average weight for a newborn is approximately seven pounds, according to the World Health Organization.
Rodriguez told the Buffalo News that she was stunned by her daughter's size, noting that "Even her forehead was fat! It was amazing." She also observed that Yemaya already had finger dimples at birth and was "so thick."
Doctors diagnosed Yemaya with fetal macrosomia, commonly known as "Big Baby Syndrome," a condition where a fetus grows larger than average. This condition affects about nine percent of babies and is often difficult to detect during pregnancy. Rodriguez mentioned she had a premonition she would not have a "regular-sized kid" and had begun using a belly band in her second trimester due to the pregnancy's heaviness.
Rodriguez initially planned for a natural birth, but a C-section became necessary when Yemaya grabbed a medical provider's finger during labor. While Yemaya was born healthy, she required a brief stay in the NICU for breathing observation.
The name Yemaya was chosen by Rodriguez and her partner, Dominic Soto, from Yoruba tradition, meaning "Mother of All Living Things." Rodriguez stated the name honors "feminine power, wisdom and the kind of unconditional love that helps families grow and thrive."
Soto shared the news on Facebook, expressing his love for Rodriguez and celebrating the birth. Rodriguez noted that the baby clothes they had purchased are already too small, with Yemaya fitting into three to six-month sizes.
