Caesarean Rate Stabilises as Baby Boom Continues

The rate of women undergoing caesarean section has stabilised for the first time in more than ten years according to a report "Australia's mothers and babies 2007" from the AIHW. The report also shows more women are having babies and more are delaying having children until later in life. The baby boom continued with over 12,000 more births in 2007 than in 2006 and 14% more than in 2004. The perinatal death rate was 10.3 per 1,000 births and fetal and neonatal deaths were 7.4 per 1,000 births and 2.9 per 1,000 live births respectively. Young maternal age, maternal Indigenous status and multiple births were associated with higher rates of perinatal deaths. (From: NRHA eforum 15 December 2009)