Half of first-time mothers in Irish hospitals have labour induced 

The rate of induction among first-time mothers was 71.4% in one hospital. File picture/PA

At least half of first-time mothers in Irish hospitals have their labour induced, with the rate reaching 71.4% in one hospital.

Induction is starting a woman’s labour artificially, either with drugs or manually, and new data from Irish maternity hospitals has revealed it is becoming increasingly common.