2017 has been a year of extremes — even for babies.

A Florida mother is making headlines after giving birth to a 13.5 pound baby. She fits into a growing trend.

On May 15, Orange Park, FL mother Christine Corbitt gave birth to baby Carleigh Brooke Corbitt.

"[T]hey pulled a toddler out of my belly." — Christine Corbitt

While doctors knew baby Carleigh had gestational diabetes, Christine's previous births had led to babies that weighed nine or ten pounds. A 13.5 pound child was not something she anticipated.

“She was a surprise,” Corbitt told Action News JAX, before concluding, “I’m done. No more babies for me.”

Baby Carleigh is the latest child to make headlines for nearly doubling the average birth weight of 7.5 pounds.

ATTN: has reported on similar large births three times in 2017.

In January, it was a 14 pound baby from Louisiana. In April, it was a 13.25 pound baby from Melbourne. In May, it was two large babies, one weighing 13 pounds from California and one weighing 16 pounds from New Zealand.

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ATTN: reached out to Carleigh’s parents for comment and will update if we hear back.

Experts warn that births like this pose health risks — for both mother and child.

When a baby is larger than average size at birth — a condition known as to as fetal macrosoma — complications can arise. Leena Nathan MD, assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, notes how this can be a problem.

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“Larger babies are concerning for the health of the mother and that baby,” Nathan told ATTN:. “Labor may not progress normally and the mother is at higher risk for cesarean section.” Nathan notes this birth method is common because large babies risk getting stuck under a mother's pubic bone and causing vaginal damage

“The baby can have low blood sugars at birth when born so large,” Nathan added. “These large babies point to mothers with increasing rates of diabetes as this is one of the major risk factors for having a large baby. Obese women are more likely to deliver very large babies as well.” Nathan says that doctors recommend morbidly obese women gain little to no weight during pregnancy.

Thankfully, this recent “trend” in big babies is entirely avoidable if mothers are vigilant about maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Nathan urges mothers to get checked for diabetes, consult doctors about a healthy diet, and exercise, even if only walking for thirty minutes a day.

“As physicians, we recommend achieving a healthy weight and lifestyle prior to pregnancy in order to ensure the best chance of having a healthy baby and delivery,” Nathan says. “Proactive measures can really help prevent very large babies.”