In a remarkable feat of natural childbirth, Ayshah Maton, 34, defied expectations by delivering her 12lb baby girl, Eloise, at home with only gas and air as pain relief. The serene birth, which took place on March 12 in Ashendon, Buckinghamshire, unfolded on the living room floor, surrounded by Ayshah’s husband, two midwives, and a doula.
Despite Eloise’s remarkable size, Ayshah described the experience as “amazing” and calm, attributing the relaxed atmosphere to the familiarity and safety of her home environment. As a mother of four, Ayshah’s prior experience with childbirth may have contributed to her calm demeanor during the delivery.
Ayshah and her husband, Gari, who stand at five foot seven inches and just under six feet tall respectively, joked about their knack for producing big babies, as Eloise joins her older brothers, both weighing over 11lbs at birth.
Labouring mostly in a birthing pool, Ayshah transitioned to the living room floor for the final stages of labour, where Eloise made her grand entrance at 12.14pm. Remarkably, despite Eloise’s size, Ayshah’s labour was relatively short, lasting only slightly longer than her previous childbirth experience.
Following the birth, Ayshah quickly recovered and expressed awe at the resilience of the human body. Eloise’s weight, recorded at 12lbs and 0.5oz, places her among the ranks of one of the biggest baby girls born naturally in the UK, rivaled only by record breaker Suzie Gzowski.
As Ayshah cherishes the miraculous experience of Eloise’s birth, her story serves as a testament to the strength and capabilities of the human body in childbirth.