Breaking: Medical Intervention Now Involved in Over Half of UK Births, New Audit Reveals
London, UK – A new audit has revealed a significant rise in medical intervention during childbirth across England, Scotland, and Wales. The National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) found that over half (50%) of births now involve some form of medical assistance, a substantial increase from 25% in 2015-16 to 38.9% in 2023.
The NMPA, a collaboration between childbirth doctors, midwives, and academics, also reported a rise in induced births, increasing from 29.3% to 33.9% over the same period. Though, the use of forceps or ventouse cups decreased slightly, falling from 12.3% to 11.1%.
Experts attribute the increase to shifting demographic trends. Dr. Shuby Puthussery, an associate professor in maternal and child health at the University of Bedfordshire, expressed concern, stating, “It’s worrying that over 50% of births involved medical intervention. But it’s linked to a broader demographic trend.” She highlighted a growing number of births to older mothers, alongside increases in obesity, maternal diabetes, and pre-existing medical conditions, especially among women from ethnic minority groups and those living in poverty, leading to more complex births.
Dr. Puthussery emphasized the potential benefits of improved access to antenatal care, particularly scans, to detect problems earlier and potentially reduce the need for medical intervention during labor.
While the rising caesarean section rate is drawing attention, Professor Asma Khalil, the vice-president of the Royal College of obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), cautioned against viewing it as inherently negative. “Caesarean births are common and the steady increase isn’t necessarily a cause for concern as long as future services are well-prepared to adapt and ensure they have the right staffing, training and facilities to manage increasingly complex births,” she said. She also pointed to rising rates of obesity and women choosing to have children later in life as contributing factors.
The NMPA report acknowledges the risks and benefits of both vaginal and caesarean births, stating, “Ther are risks and benefits to both vaginal and caesarean modes of birth, and the reasons for choosing a caesarean birth, planned or unplanned, can include physical or psychological benefits.” It further notes that “there is no ‘ideal’ rate for births by caesarean.”
In 2023, 23.1% of births were emergency caesareans,while 16.4% were planned.
The audit also confirmed a significant decline in fertility rates. The number of births in England and Wales has been falling as 2012, wiht 2023 recording the lowest number since 1977.The current fertility rate stands at 1.44 children per woman in England and Wales, and a record low of 1.3 babies per woman in scotland.
The NMPA is a joint effort by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
NHS england has been contacted for comment.
