“It was really charming and such a good reminder that babies come in all shapes and sizes,” shared new mom Chloe in a statement
Kayla Grant is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2025. Her work has previously appeared in theGrio, Shondaland and ESSENCE GU.
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One hospital experienced a memorable day when two newborns born within hours of each other shocked the maternity unit
On Jan. 31, the hospital staff helped deliver babies whose sizes were on opposite sides of the spectrum, creating a special memory for all those involved
One newborn entered the world weighing a whopping 13 lbs., making him the largest baby ever born at the hospital
One hospital experienced a memorable day when two newborns born within hours of each other shocked the maternity unit.
On Jan. 31, the maternity unit at Cayuga Medical Center welcomed two babies whose sizes were on opposite sides of the spectrum, creating a special, long-lasting memory for both the parents as well as the doctors and nurses.
New York Hospital Welcomes Record-Breaking 13 Lb Newborn Hours Before 4 Lb Baby.
Newborns born at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York.
Centralus Health
First, the maternity unit assisted parents Terrica and Shawn with the delivery of their record-setting baby boy, Shawn Jr. The newborn entered the world weighing a whopping 13 lbs., making him the largest baby ever born at the hospital. Although the family expected their newborn would be on the bigger side, his size still surprised them.
“We knew he’d be bigger, but we didn’t expect this,” Terrica, who’s also a mom to two sons and a daughter, said in a statement to the hospital. “He’s already wearing three to six-month diapers and clothes. It feels like I skipped straight to having a 3-month-old.”
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Hours later, doctors and nurses helped parents Chloe and Victor deliver their baby.
The doting parents had a completely different experience from Terrica and Shawn with their newborn entering the world at only 4 lbs. The contrast of their baby’s size to the hospital’s record-breaking one made the moment even sweeter for each of the parents.
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Speaking with the hospital, Chloe shared that the experience was « really charming. »
“It was really charming and such a good reminder that babies come in all shapes and sizes,” Chloe shared in a statement to the hospital. “I’m feeling great and so thankful for the care we received from the doctors, nurses, and midwives.”
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The two births serve as a reminder that every baby and birth experience is different. Robyn Torgalski, the system director of maternal child health at Centralus Health, expressed a similar sentiment, underscoring that the entire process is « unique. »
“These two births are a wonderful reminder that every baby and every birth story is unique,” Torgalski said in a statement shared by the hospital. “Whether a newborn weighs 4 pounds or 13, our teams are prepared to provide the highest level of care to both baby and family. »
She continued, « We’re proud of the exceptional maternity care delivered at Cayuga Health, one of our valued affiliates, and honored to support families through moments like these.”
