More than half of the British births now include medical intervention, audit finds | Health of women

More than half of the women who have a baby in the UK, now do so with the help of medical intervention, an examination of Nhs Maternity provision has been revealed.

Of the 592,594 births that took place in 2023, 50.6% involved either a caesarean section or the use of instruments such as tweezers or a ventouse suction suction.

Experts said that the increase in medically assisted deliveries were a “greater shift” that is due to the fact that births have become more complicated in recent years, partly because older or obese women have babies.

The increasing regularity of medical intervention is largely due to the strong increase in caesarean sections, in which the baby is delivered during an operation.

The proportion of babies born in this way in England, Scotland and Wales, according to the national motherhood and the perinatal examination (NMPA), a collaboration between the doctors of the birth and the academic, rose from 25% in the period 2015-16 to 38.9% in 2023.

The proportion of induced births that have been induced has also increased from 29.3% to 33.9% during this time. However, the proportion of tweezers or ventouse cup has dropped from 12.3% to 11.1% in the same period.

Dr. Shuby Puthussey, Associate Professor of Mother and Child at the University of Bedfordshire, said: “It is concerned that over 50% of the births involve medical interventions. But connected with a broader demographic trend.

“We see a rather worrying trend of births [older] Women who increase from year to year, together with significant increase in factors such as obesity, diabetes maternal and existing diseases, which leads to more complex medically supported births, especially in women from ethnic minorities and people who live in poverty. “

Better access to prenatal care, in particular to scans, would help recognize problems earlier and reduce the risk of mothers who need medical help during work.

Prof. Asma Khalil, the Vice President of the Royal College of Obstricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), did not agree that a caesarean section will increase the risk of women.

“Caesarean sections are common and the constant increase is not necessarily a reason for concern, as long as future services are well prepared to adapt and ensure that they have the right staff, training courses and facilities in order to manage ever more complex births.

“The Caesarean section in England has increased steadily in the past ten years. One factor for this is the increasing proportion of complex pregnancies.

“We see the national rising rates of obesity and people who choose children in their lives, both of whom can increase the chance of complications.”

The report states: “There are risks and advantages for the birth modes of the vaginal and caesarean section, and the reasons for the selection of a planned or unplanned caesarean section – physical or psychological advantages can include.

“While unnecessary interventions can lead to disadvantageous results, it is important to note that there are no” ideal “installments for births through caesarean section.”

In 2023, a total of 23.1% of the births were planned and 16.4% planned.

The NMPA is a common work of the Royal College of Obstricians and Gynecolies, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Paediatrics and the child Health and researchers of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

It has been confirmed that the fertility rates had decreased sharply in recent years. The number of births in England and Wales has decreased steadily since 2012, and in 2023 the lowest number has been since 1977. The fertility rate in England and Wales is now 1.44 children per woman.

Scotland recorded its lowest overall fertility in 2023. The rate has dropped to only 1.3 babies per woman.

NHS England was asked for a comment.