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A mum who pushed out one of the UK’s biggest babies describes the experience as “relaxing”.
Ruth Harvey went the natural route by delivering her baby in a birthing pool at home in Dundonald, Ayrshire.
Her partner Eddie Gillan, 44, and a team of three midwives were there to offer their support during the eight-and-a-half hour labour.
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And when the time arrived, Ruth was shocked to deliver a 12lb 9oz baby.
She named “chunky monkey” Tabitha – and reached for the Guinness Book of Records to check if her newborn came close.
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."
Tabitha didn’t quite beat the record, which is held by Guy Carr who weighed 15lb 8oz at his birth in 1992.
Ruth decided to give birth at home, surrounded by fairy lights and with NHS-funded aromatherapy, instead of in a hospital.
Siblings Ted, six, Brody, nine, who are Ruth's kids from a previous relationship, and Eddie's children Eva, 11, and Oliver, 13, were there to listen to Tabitha’s heartbeat too.
The mum 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 our children were upstairs asleep.
"They came down and my mum and dad took them out for breakfast.
"When they came back I was lying on the sofa with Tabitha.
"It was such a great experience, the midwives were phenomenal.
"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 quicker, I'm 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."
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