MORE than 500 “super-size” babies were born at East Lancashire hospitals last year, new figures show.

NHS Digital data shows that of 6,085 babies born under the care of East Lancashire Hospitals Trust between April 2017 and March 2018, 565 (nine per cent) weighed in at 8lb 13oz or more.

The Royal College of Midwives says this is the benchmark for a baby to be considered large – the medical term for which is macrosomia.

A third (3,760) of babies born at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust facilities weighed between 6lb 10oz and 7lb 11oz.

And 1,765 babies were born weighing 6lb 9oz or less.

The medical definition of low birth weight, which also brings health risks, is 5lb 8oz or less.

Babies born with macrosomia are more likely to have health problems such as obesity and diabetes later in life.

Unusually large babies can cause difficulties during labour and delivery, according to the RCM.

This could include a higher risk of shoulder dystocia, when the shoulders get stuck and impacted by the woman’s pelvis, which can require some manoeuvring to help the baby out.

Women with significantly large babies are also more likely to need a caesarean section.

Almost 60,000 babies born across England during the same period weighed in at 8lb 13z or over - 11 per cent of the total 626,203.

Obese mothers – those with a body mass index of 30 or over – are twice as likely to have a super-size baby, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

UK-wide, the largest number of super-size babies were born in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust facilities, with 1,180 of 13,385 babies meeting the classification.

In contrast, just 30 babies weighing 8lb 13oz or more were born under The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's care, though there were only 270 babies born there over the 12 months from April 2017 to March last year.