First-time mums older as birth rate highest in Europe

FIRST-TIME mothers are getting older, caesarean rates continue to grow and our breastfeeding rate is inching upwards, statistics by the Economic and Social Research Unit (ESRI) show.

These latest results from the National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS), published today, reveal birth rates rose by a substantial 9% between 2006 and 2007. A total of 71,963 births were notified to the NPRS in 2007 giving Ireland the highest birth rate of any of the 27 EU countries in 2007.

The statistics also show 5% of babies were breastfed at discharge from hospital compared with 41% in 2003 and 36% in 1999. The average age of giving birth has also steadily increased from 30.1 years in 1999 to 31.1 years in 2007.