Older mothers drive surge in caesareans

AN INCREASE in the number of older mothers and rising obesity have led to unprecedented levels of caesarean births, experts say.

Figures from NHS Digital show 27.8 per cent of births in 2016-17 involved the intervention, the highest recorded, and an 11 per cent rise in five years.

Just 55.1 per cent of women had a spontaneous labour, a fall from 68.7 per cent a decade earlier. The remainder had caesareans or were induced.

Edward Morris, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said it reflected “the increasing number of complex births due to rising maternal age and obesity”. Older women and those who are overweight are at higher risk of complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes and preeclampsia and of suffering stillbirth.