One in four births in England is now emergency caesarean, BBC analysis shows
The shift marks a significant rise over the last five years, but experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase.
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Notable Quotes
"The thousands of women I’ve spoken to want a safe birth above everything else, so we should not vilify or criticise women who make those decisions."
— Donna Ockenden , Academic
"In some cases women are going for caesarean sections as a kind of least-worst option because they don’t really believe they’re going to have the kind of support they need to have a safe, straightforward, positive labour and birth in hospital."
— Soo Downe , Academic
"We knew that having a Caesarean birth can damage the cervix."
— Dr Maria Ivan , Academic
"Everything I had ever heard about c-sections had been negative and scary. So, when I was told I needed an emergency c-section, I was very anxious. But it went well and I had a good experience, which I hadn’t thought was possible."
— Tommy , Influencer
Key People
Donna Ockenden is one of the UK’s most senior midwives leading a major inquiry into maternity failures in Nottingham.
Lead author at UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health.
Soo Downe is a professor of midwifery at the University of Lancashire.
A user on Tommy's Facebook who shared their positive experience with an emergency c-section.
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All Coverage
The shift marks a significant rise over the last five years, but experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase.
For the first time, caesarean sections have overtaken natural vaginal births in England, with 45% of births via C-section and 44% through natural vaginal births, according to NHS data.
A study by UCL researchers found that women who have Caesarean births at an advanced stage of labour are about eight times more likely to develop scars in the womb, increasing the likelihood of premature births in future pregnancies.
An overview of caesarean sections, including information on planned and unplanned procedures, reasons for C-sections, and what to expect during the operation and recovery.
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