14-pound baby: 'J.J.' could be largest US baby of 2013

14-pound baby: 'J.J.' could be largest US baby of 2013, A 14-pound baby was born in Utah and he could be the largest baby born in the United States in 2013. On Nov. 1, ABC News reported that baby Joel Brandon's mom, Sara, was as surprised as her doctors were when her newborn weighed a couple of pounds more than expected. They estimated the baby to weigh 11 pounds -- which is still large... but not compared to 14 pounds!

"When they stuck him on the scale he was 14 pounds even. The doctor said it was the biggest baby he had ever delivered," said Sara Brandon. "I had to have two [obstetricians] deliver him instead of one, because they knew he was going to be big. They struggled to get him out," she added.

The 14-pound baby is healthy now but the first 10 days of his life weren't so easy. According to the report, "J.J." had to spend a little over a week in the neonatal intensive care unit because of lung problems. His mom says that he is thriving now that he's at home. As to why he was so big, doctors believe it's because Sara has type 1 diabetes.

"An interesting effect of insulin, if it’s not taken in a sufficient amount, the glucose remains high, and the baby’s glucose starts to rise. It’s like giving the baby fertilizer and it grows very large," explained Dr. Robert Barbieri, a doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

The 14-pound baby even outweighed his twin sisters who were 4 pounds each when they were born three years ago.