Mother gives birth to 5.9 kg baby

SEMARANG: Sarikem, 34, a resident of Kampung Adipasir in Rakit subdistrict, Banjarnegara regency, gave birth on Tuesday to an 5.9-kilogram, 54-centimeter baby girl.

"Both the mother and the baby are healthy. As the baby's weight is above average, we had to perform a Caesarean.

"It took 30 minutes for the surgery, which was done by Dr. Haryata," Banjarnegara General Hospital director Untung Sungkowo told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He said it was rare for a newborn to weigh so much and the first time such a birth weight had been recorded in Banjarnegara. The average weight of a newborn is four kilograms.

The baby is the fifth child for Sarikem and husband Ahmad Dalhar. All their other children weighed over four kilograms at birth and were delivered by Caesarean section.

Untung said Sarikem's diabetes had nothing to do with the baby's weight. (har/hdn)