Mom Gives Birth to 15-Pound Boy

A Minnesota mother gave birth to a 15-pound, 6-ounce baby boy last Monday.

Wendi and Michael Dolton of Rochester, Minn., told NBC's "Today" show that Axel Laverne Dolton weighed in at twice the weight of the average Minnesota baby, even though he was born three weeks premature.

Wendi had gone in for an ultrasound shortly before delivering and was told that her baby would be on the bigger side. But the Doltons didn't think he would be that big. "It was a shock, I didn't expect to have a 15-pound baby," Wendi said.

Big babies run in the family. "I was 10 and a half pounds and they actually had to break my shoulder bones to get me out," Wendi said. The Doltons also have two daughters who were also on the bigger side when they were born -- Naomi was 9 pounds and Emma was 11 pounds.

The Doltons still aren't sure what caused Axel's rapid weight gain, but they have affectionately nickamed him their "Butterball turkey."

In September an Indonesian woman gave birth to a 19-pound baby , the heaviest in recorded history.