More Canadian women opt for less painful births: report

Published Sep 14, 2004

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I found this interesting. Glad to see the decline in episiotomies, and although 17% c-section isn't ideal, it's pretty good.

More Canadian women opt for less painful births: report

Last Updated Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:51:07 EDT

TORONTO - Nearly half of women who give birth in Canada are having an epidural to control pain, but the option is not available to some, according to a new report.

The latest figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show wide variations across the country for a number of interventions.

The caesarian section rates varied from a low of nine per cent in Nunavut to a high of more than 30 per cent in Richmond, B.C.

One in six babies (16.5 per cent) were born by caesarean section in 2001-2002, compared to one in seven (13.8 per cent) in 1998-1999.

Use of epidurals ranged from four per cent in the Northwest Territories to 60 per cent in Quebec. Of the provinces, Prince Edward Island had the lowest rate at 17 per cent.

A shortage of specialists like anesthetists in smaller and rural areas explains some of the variation.

"It really is a very practical issue of not having enough anesthetists who are prepared and able to provide the service," said Dr. Des Colihan, head of medical services for P.E.I.'s Health Department.

The report said women are most likely to have epidurals if they live in communities with large hospitals, but the size of the community doesn't completely explain the variations.

"When we see cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal having substantially different rates, it's clear there's probably no one explanation," said Glenda Yeates, president of the health institute.

The figures suggest fewer women had episiotomies in the last decade. The rate of doctors making an incision to enlarge the lady parts during labour dropped from almost half of lady partsl births in 1991-1992 to about 24 per cent in 2000-2001.

"That, we believe, is likely because of the intervening studies that have shown in fact it's not as helpful as once thought," said Yeates.

The report gives details about the trends in birth interventions across the country but it doesn't answer whether the rates are good or bad.

The institute plans to release two more studies on childbirth, one looking at the costs and the other at the experiences of new mothers.

Written by CBC News Online staff