Markie Smith, 35, a dog walker from Arlington, Texas, thought her third baby would be big. Even so, she was stunned when her son, Canyon, arrived weighing 12lb 10.5oz—just shy of 13lb. Delivered by C-section at 8:26am on December 18 at Arlington Memorial Hospital, Canyon was among the largest newborns the hospital has seen.

Smith said the delivery room fell silent, then erupted in disbelief when staff announced his weight. She joked that holding him felt like lifting a “bowling ball” or “a bag of bricks,” adding that he looked like a “little sumo wrestler.” Despite his size, Canyon is doing well, though he briefly needed extra monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit because of his unusually high birth weight.

In the US, most newborns weigh around 6–8lb, meaning Canyon was nearly double the typical size. In the UK, average birth weight is about 5.5–8.8lb. Doctors use the term foetal macrosomia for babies weighing 8lb 13oz or more, a category that includes around one in ten UK births. Experts often point to rising obesity and diabetes rates as key drivers.

Smith said the pregnancy was emotionally tough, following the loss of her mother and a recent break-up. She kept working until days before the birth and leaned on faith and time spent fishing. Canyon’s name came from a long list of nature- and Western-inspired choices, and his nine-year-old sister, Meadow, has already nicknamed him “Little West.” Photos of the newborn quickly drew attention online, and Smith says she’s grateful to share her “giant baby” with the world.