Ireland's birth rate has fallen slightly, however the number of babies being born by caesarean section continues to increase, and the number of women over the age of 35 having babies is also on the rise, a new report has shown.

According to the National Perinatal Statistic Report 2013, which has just been published by the HSE, a total of 69,267 births were reported in 2013, a fall of almost 4% when compared with 2012.

Of these, just under 30% were delivered by caesarean section - 28% of singleton babies and 68% of multiple births. In 2004, 25% of total live births were delivered in this way.

Meanwhile, the average age of mothers has increased from 30.8 years in 2004 to 32.1 years in 2013. Some 32% of mothers were aged 35 years or older in 2013, compared to 24% in 2004. Furthermore, 20% of first births were to women aged 35 and older in 2013, compared to 13% in 2004.

The number of women under the age of 20 giving birth fell from 4% in 2004 to 2% in 2013.

The report also notes a big jump in the number of twins born over the last decade. Altogether 2,526 twin births were recorded in 2013, an increase of 24% when compared with 2004 and an increase of just over 8% when compared with 2012.

Eighty-seven triplet births and four quadruplet births were also recorded in 2013.

Among the total live births in 2013, 6% were born premature, 6% had a low birth weight and 2% had a high birth weight.

The report showed a small increase in breastfeeding rates, with 56% of babies recording any breastfeeding in 2013, compared to 53% in 2009 and 46% in 2004. Furthermore, 46% of babies were exclusively breastfed in 2013 compared to 42% in 2009 and 45% in 2004.

The report also revealed that the number of stillbirths and deaths among babies less than one week old - known as the perinatal mortality rate - has fallen by 22% since 2004, from 8.1 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths, to 6.3 per 1,000.

Overall, the perinatal mortality rate was highest among babies born to mothers who were aged between 40 and 44 (9.1 per 1,000), and lowest among babies born to mothers aged between 30 and 34 (5 per 1,000).

Meanwhile, the report also showed that 23% of births in 2013 were to mothers born outside of Ireland, compared to 15% in 2004.

Commenting on the report, the HSE's national clinical lead in obstetrics and gynaecology, Prof Michael Turner, pointed out that some of these trends, such as the increases in twin births and the increase in the number of women from outside of Ireland giving birth here, have led to ‘increased demands on our maternity services nationally'.

"In the light of these increased demands, it is reassuring that there have been improvements in the rate of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. It is also reassuring that while caesarean section rates increased over the decade, they remain close to the OECD average for developed countries," he said.

The full report can be viewed here

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