High rate of caesarean sections among Irish mums

New research shows the rate of emergency caesarean sections among Irish mothers is nearly twice that of Eastern European women who have babies in Ireland.

 

The research, carried out by UCD and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), also found that Irish women giving birth are more likely to be obese, to smoke and to have induced births.

 

The authors of the report point out that there is a higher incidence of obstetric interventions such as inductions and caesareans among obese women. Prof Michael Turner (Dublin's Coombe Hospital) says obesity can have a seriously negative effect on most aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, with pregnant obese women more likely to develop conditions such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

The ESRI’s Prof Richard Layte says that while there are ethnic variations in caesarean rates, there are factors that can be changed to help reduce complications and interventions, namely obesity and the decision to induce.