Publication, Part of NHS Maternity Statistics
NHS Maternity Statistics, England - 2021-22
Official statistics
Corrections made to national and provider HES data
Corrections have been made to the following files:
- Summary Report Tables, percentage of deliveries by duration of postnatal stay, Table 7.
- HES NHS Maternity Statistics Tables, number of deliveries where antenatal and postnatal length of stay is unknown. Tables 1.f, 1.g, 2.b; 3.d; 4.d; 5.c and 5.d and aligning time series percentages in Table 1.i to previously published figures.
- HES Provider Level Analysis: Caesarean with postnatal stay 0-3 days, Table G and related columns in the MPDP Flat File tab.
The chart and commentary figures in the 'Method of delivery, and postnatal stay' on the 'Deliveries in 2021-22' page have also been updated.
13 February 2025 17:10 PM
Deliveries in 2021-22
Anaesthetic or analgesic use
An anaesthetic or analgesic may be administered during labour to provide pain relief.
Overall the proportion of deliveries where an anaesthetic or analgesic was administered before or during delivery has decreased from 63 per cent in 2011-12 to 59 per cent of deliveries in 2021-22. An anaesthetic or analgesic was administered in 58 per cent of deliveries for women aged under 20, compared to 63 per cent aged 40 years and over, in 2021-22.
Method of delivery, and age of mother
The final method of delivery may differ to that which occurs at the onset of labour.
The most common method of delivery is spontaneous for all age groups, with the exception of 40 years and over where it is caesarean. The proportion of caesarean deliveries increases with age group and accounts for 52 per cent of deliveries to those women aged 40 and over.
Delivery complications
Labour is usually a straightforward process but sometimes complications arise that may need attention.
In 2021-22 the most prevalent delivery complications were ‘Perineal laceration during delivery’ which occurred in 39 per cent of deliveries, ‘Labour and delivery complicated by fetal stress [distress]’ which occurred in 27 per cent and 'Maternal care for other known or suspected fetal problems' which also occurred in 27 per cent of deliveries.
Method of delivery, and postnatal stay
The duration that women spend in hospital following delivery varies by the method of delivery.
In 2021-22, 79 per cent of women who had a spontaneous method of delivery were discharged either the same day or the next day after delivery. This compares to 58 per cent for instrumental and 49 per cent for caesarean methods of delivery.
Last edited: 13 February 2025 5:10 pm