Publication, Part of NHS Maternity Statistics
NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2022-23
Official statistics
Correction made to HES national tables
In July 2024, a correction has been made to the total percentages shown in Table 2b of the HES NHS Maternity Statistics Tables.
In February 2025, corrections have also been made to time series data in Tables 1.f, 1.g and 1.i of the HES NHS Maternity Statistics Tables to align to previously published figures.
13 February 2025 17:14 PM
Correction made to MSDS Breastfeeding CSV Data
The file has been replaced with corrected figures. CSDS v1.6 went live for local data collection on 1 January 2023. The previous data file did not include data to cover the period from 1 January 2023 - 31 March 2023.
10 December 2024 11:30 AM
Deliveries in 2022-23
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 2012-13 to 57 per cent of deliveries in 2022-23. An anaesthetic or analgesic was administered in 57 per cent of deliveries for women aged under 20, compared to 60 per cent aged 40 years and over, in 2022-23.
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 55 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 2022-23 the most prevalent delivery complications were ‘Perineal laceration during delivery’ which occurred in 37 per cent of deliveries and 'Maternal care for other known or suspected fetal problems' which occurred in 29 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 2022-23, 78 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 57 per cent for instrumental and 47 per cent for caesarean methods of delivery.
Last edited: 13 February 2025 5:14 pm