Cuidiú - antenatal classes, breastfeeding support, parenting support etc. > Consumer Guide

Tables comparing maternity units’ statistics for

Induction of Labour

Spontaneous Vaginal Birth

Instrumental Birth (Forceps and Ventouse)

Caesarean Birth (Total, Elective and Unplanned / Emergency)

Epidural Usage

and Initial Breastfeeding Rates

for 2005 are given on this page. For information on each unit’s policies and practices please go to the hospital information page.

All data was provided by the hospitals and percentages were calculated by Cuidiú – ICT. There are obvious differences in the data collection systems in the maternity services across the State. Some units were able to provide very comprehensive statistics whilst others could only provide the most basic figures. Gaps in the tables below are where no data was provided.

Many thanks to all members of hospital staff who worked so hard to provide figures for this independent nationwide survey. The comparison tables below will make interesting reading for women and their families and also health care professionals.

Click here for a printer friendly version of the induction table

Click here for a printer friendly version of the spontaneous vaginal birth table

Click here for a printer friendly version of the instrumental birth table

Click here for a printer friendly version of the Caesarean birth table

Figures provided for epidural usage appeared to have been recorded differently in different units. Some units did not appear to include women who used epidural in labour but who subsequently had a Caesarean birth. Other units appear to have reported all labouring women who used this form of pain relief regardless of how they ultimately gave birth. The table below shows the figures as reported and therefore direct comparisons may not be useful.

Click here for a printer friendly version of the epidural usage table

Click here for a printer friendly version of the breastfeeding table

(For other, more detailed data comparing maternity units you can download tables for All mothers, for Primips and for Multips.)

Information on how to use this Consumer Guide and on what you might expect in the different Maternity Services in Ireland can be found here.