NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2023-24

Overall the proportion of deliveries where an anaesthetic or analgesic was administered before or during delivery has decreased from 63 per cent in 2013-14 to 56 per cent of deliveries in 2023-24. An anaesthetic or analgesic was administered in 54 per cent of deliveries for women aged under 20, compared to 59 per cent aged 40 years and over, in 2023-24.

The most common method of delivery is spontaneous for women aged 29 and under. For women aged 30-39, spontaneous and caesarean deliveries accounted for the same proportion of deliveries. The most common method of delivery for women 40 and over was caesarean. The proportion of caesarean deliveries increases with age group and accounts for 58 per cent of deliveries to those women aged 40 and over.

In 2023-24 the most prevalent delivery complications were ‘Perineal laceration during delivery’ which occurred in 36 per cent of deliveries and 'Maternal care for other known or suspected fetal problems' which occurred in 31 per cent of deliveries.

In 2023-24, 76 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 54 per cent for instrumental and 46 per cent for caesarean methods of delivery.