42% of UK births are c-sections

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Is anyone else surprised at this statistic? I’m sure it was only something like 20% when my now-teen was born.

Although I had noticed how so many of my friends/family members/colleagues having babies recently all seem to have had cesareans.

It looks as though the shift will only continue so potentially c-section will exceed 50% of births and be the more common mode of birth in a few years.

I think it’s really interesting! Will there be drive to try and push numbers down and increase vaginal births again? Or will it eventually become standard for most women to just book in for an elective section as standard and ‘attempting natural’ will be seen as a more unusual choice like home birth is currently.

How many of the statistics you’re quoting are electives? Of the 42% how many are elective? That would be really useful information before people start responding/reacting. Thanks OP.

That does seem high , certainly much higher than when I had my dc 10-15 years ago. I do wonder if the lack of care contributes to this midwives are overrun, so it’s perceived as safer to have a C-section. C- section is more expensive so less funding for adequate numbers of midwives so it’s all a vicious cycle.

Ah good point-
‘Overall, there were 225,762 deliveries by Caesarean in 2023/24 (42% of all deliveries), of which 99,783 were elective and 125,979 were registered as emergency Caesareans.’

From BBC article.

Not all c sections have the same reasons behind them though. If the statistic is being pushed up through more and more women needing emergency sections when they’d planned a VB then there is obviously a failing there, but you need to properly provide the information behind the statistic.

I had an elective c section because my baby was breech but 100% would go for that again the second time round regardless of baby position.

Perhaps thankfully women are able to make better informed and supported choices around the way they give birth.

Yes I also had my children 10-15 years ago (which doesn’t seem that long ago, I mean they’re still school-age) and it definitely seemed more unusual and a big deal to end up having a c-section.

As far as cost goes I have read that elective c-sections actually save money overall as they avoid emergency sections and other interventions taking place/poor vaginal birth outcomes. But most of the recorded births are emergency cesareans so cost-effective can’t be the whole reason.

Maternal guidelines have changed so women can now request a c section and they don't need a medical reason to have one so this bumps up the percentage. A lot of women opt for them now for a wide range of reasons, many more psychological and it allows women more control over their care and annoyed choice

The term ‘emergency caesarean’ has a very wide definition though. In most hospitals it’s every c-section once even stage 1 labour is thought to be underway.

thanks for posting the stats. So over 50% were emergency. Which means (and my maths isn’t great) that approx 20% of births are elective? That seems reasonable. I wonder how many of those 20% had an emergency first time around (like me), how many of those electives were based on a ‘balancing odds’ situation such as diabetics whose babies are known to be larger therefore possible complication rate with a vaginal delivery are heightened?

think more info is needed?

That’s true about defining ‘emergency’ section, different trusts might define differently.

It would also be interesting to know how many were classed as ‘maternal request’ (but then again, that definition is also wide and could easily overlap with ‘medical reason’)

Gave birth 2 months ago. Failed induction (couldnt dilate past 8 cm) plus womb infection meant I needed to have a c section plus baby flipped over go stargazer position. Most of the births in my nct group were emergency c section or forceps! Made me wish I went for elective c section as I had a great experience with c section and the induction was painful and a waste of time and i had to wait 4 hours for an epidural.

I know someone who really wanted a vaginal birth but her labour failed to progress and she didn't want to be induced so opted for a c section. She says she will go for home birth next time.

Not surprised. Personally think it's too high but kind of irrelevant as women will do what they want.

There's no doubt that EMCS are overused. I can understand from a medics POV, you'd rather a woman leave with a scar than withoit her baby or her life.

I had a EMCS with 1st and VBAC with 2nd - which was an uphill battle as medics are scared of being the 0.1% of bad outcomes.

I don't see this trend changing anytime soon, especially as we have less children.

Why would a woman not “do what they want” ?
Have a live baby, survive themselves etc

@Outside9 Agreed, although there are sometimes other reasons for medical interventions in labour, sometimes due to ward capacity, time it takes etc Not always about best interests.

I read in part its because more women are overweight or unfit. Alongside a demand for CSs. It is slightly worrying for things like allergies as these tend to be higher.
I do hope it's not because women are even less supported during labour as it was pretty rubbish 15 years ago

I think there really should be a further devision between reasons for a cesarean section. Emergency speaks for itself, but elective suggests choice, which some are, however neither of mine were at all.

I just gave birth and was shocked at the state of the maternity care. I am glad this is my first and last birth.

Had gestational diabetes and was recommended for induction at 37 weeks...which ended in c section. Most inductions seem to end in c section

@Hardhaton1 They can, but that is not to say I would necessarily agree with their decision. For example, they may wish to opt for a C-Section so they can attend a nice party at a specific time. They of course can make that choice but is it always made in the best interests of baby?

@Primrose86 Totally agree. Hence why we opted for a private homebirth after two hospital births. Especially as it was during Covid.

Yes, I did think of the falling birth rate too- less and less women having babies so in time easier to facilitate planned c-section births with theatre and team? Also less worry about ‘multiple c-sections risk’ if most women are one and done (or two children maximum).

Sorry you had a rubbish experience. It really is terrible isn't it.
Yes, lots of inductions do end in c sections I wish more emphasis placed on making women be most comfortable and confident as this has been shown to improve outcomes.

Well, thank goodness if more mothers and babies are surviving. Women die in childbirth, and babies die. No one in their right mind opts for an elective c-section for fun - it is major surgery. The current enquiry into maternity care has been prompted in part by the fact that NHS trusts often push 'natural' (ie. vaginal) birth, even when it means that mothers and children experience negative outcomes. There have already been several investigations that showed midwives and doctors feel under pressure to insist on 'natural' birth despite the knowledge a c-section might save lives.

People are not choosing major Surgery around their social events calendar and surgeons are not agreeing to that certainly not on the NHS
As we all know women get the short straw and in my experience I actually prefer to leave them to suffer for as long as possible until they’re literally begging to be shot and then at that point they might consider helping them out a bit.

I had an elective nearly 3 weeks ago after 3 natural births. But my nct group a majority of us seem to have had electives.
mine wasn’t really a choice. It was safer to deliver that way then risk the complications I had with all 3 previous births.

However for me personally I then made the decision that as it has become the safest way to deliver it, personally for me I decided it would be irresponsible to continue to have children. So I opted for sterilisation at the same time.