Horsham mothers more likely to have a baby that weighs over four kilograms

NationalWorld analysed NHS Digital figures for live babies born in 2021 - excluding May, for which data is missing.

In some parts of England babies are up to four times more likely than others to be larger than usual.

A range of factors can influence the likelihood of having an unusually large baby, including a mother’s weight and age, genetics, gestational diabetes, and a baby being overdue.

In Horsham, 14.4% of babies weighed over four kilograms. Of the 1,235 babies born in Horsham in 2021, 105 weighed between 4,000g and 4,999g while ten weighed over five kilograms.

In neighbouring Crawley, 11.6% of babies weighed over four kilograms. A total of 1,370 babies were born in Crawley, with 140 weighing between 4,000g and 4,999g and just five weighing over five kilograms.

In Mid Sussex, 12.2% weighed over four kilograms. Of the 1,250 babies born in the area, 135 weighed between 4,000g and 4,999g. Just five babies in Mid Sussex tipped the scales at over five kilograms.

How big is a big baby?