Maternity hospitals dictate method of delivery

A woman’s choice of maternity hospital may dictate the type of labour she has as latest figures show a wide variation in medical intervention rates in the country’s maternity hospitals.

At St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny, 38% of births were by C-section, making it the highest rate in the country and double that of the lowest — 19% at Sligo General Hospital.

Nationally, the C-section rate stands at 26%. The Association of Improvements in Maternity Services (Aims) who obtained the C-section figures under Freedom of Information legislation said this was well above the 10%-15% recommended by the World Health Organisation.