Baby born at Burnley General Hospital weighing 13lb. 2oz.

The bouncing baby made his appearance at Burnley General Hospital last Friday to the delight of Jennifer and partner Alan Stirzaker – and the amazement of midwives who weighed Christopher three times just to make sure.

The happy couple are now back at home in Castle Street, Hapton, with Christopher and their first child Isabelle, who was no slouch herself when she was born two years ago weighing 9lb. 14oz.

Jennifer (25) thanked midwives Lyndsey Fenwick and Leigh Halliwell and said: “We decided before that Christopher would be our last and that’s definitely the case now. I don’t want to risk a 16lb. baby next time!

“The midwives were amazed how heavy Christopher was when he was born and put him on the scales two or three times just to make sure.

“I gave birth naturally and they think he may be the biggest baby ever born at Burnley. Alan and I are so proud, he’s beautiful. It was six hours of pain but worth it.”

Office manager Jennifer was preparing for a big baby when her fundal height measurement four weeks before he was born predicted he would be around 11lb.

“I was cared for by an experienced midwife and a junior, and they were both brilliant. I was given gas, air and diamorphine, but the care I received was superb.”

Proud dad Alan did his bit too. The 39-year-old delivery driver was on hand to have his hand squeezed throughout.

He said: “I am so proud of Jennifer. She was in a lot of pain but we are all very happy now. Isabelle loves him to bits and really dotes on him.”

Jennifer has no idea why Christopher is so big. She tested negative for gestational diabetes – which sometimes leads to big babies. Carmelina Fedele of Italy set the world record for the heaviest baby in 1955 when she gave birth to a 22lb. 8oz. boy.

Melanie Robinson, head of Midwifery for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “A senior midwife who has worked in Burnley’s delivery suite for many years said she doesn’t recall a baby bigger than Christopher being born naturally. We don’t hold statistical records of birth weights, but it’s quite possible he is the biggest ever born at the hospital.”

Midwife Angela Bunting, who supported Jennifer, said: “She has done extremely well and we’re all very proud.”