Ireland sees big increase in caesarean sections

The Republic of Ireland, which has traditionally had an extremely low rate of caesarean births is now experiencing a dramatic increase in surgical deliveries.

Despite government initiatives to reduce the number of caesareans, the number of babies being delivered surgically has doubled, or tripled, at many maternity units during the past 10 years.

Reasons cited for the rise include better detection of fetal distress, more older women having babies, an increased tendency among patients to resort to litigation, doctors wanting to speed up births, and patients' preference.

But patients' …