England Emergency Caesareans Rise to 26% of Births in 5 Years as Vaginal Deliveries Fall to 43%
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
England Emergency Caesareans Rise to 26% of Births in 5 Years as Vaginal Deliveries Fall to 43%
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Summary
Emergency caesareans now account for 26% of births in England, up from 18% in 2020, while planned C-sections have also risen and unassisted vaginal births have dropped from 53% to 43%, BBC analysis found.
Experts say there is no single recorded cause because the NHS does not publish why emergency procedures are performed, but they point to fear after maternity scandals, pressure from legal claims over delayed surgery, and more complex maternal health factors.
Stillbirths and neonatal mortality have stayed largely unchanged despite the increase, raising concern among clinicians about whether more emergency surgery is improving outcomes; rates are also about one in three for Black and Asian mothers.
England moved to 9th from 14th among 42 countries for overall caesarean use between 2020 and 2025, while maternity leaders warn understaffed units and limited theatre capacity may struggle with emergency operations that can cost nearly £9,000 each.
Emergency C-sections are rising for all, but why are one in three Black and Asian mothers undergoing this high-risk surgery?
With emergency C-sections soaring, is a ‘culture of fear’ creating new risks for mothers without actually making childbirth safer?
England’s Caesarean Section Rate Surges to 42%: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions for the NHS
Overview
England is seeing a clear shift in childbirth practices, with caesarean section rates rising sharply in recent years. In 2023/24, nearly a quarter of births were emergency caesareans and almost one in five were elective, showing a strong reliance on surgical delivery. This trend marks a move away from natural vaginal births for many women. The increase is especially notable among women aged 30 and over, for whom caesarean sections are now the most common delivery method. Age has become a key factor in birth decisions, reflecting changes in both medical recommendations and maternal preferences.