The hospital recorded 1252 births last year, with 546 of them being Caesarean deliveries. This marks a notable increase from 2020, when the rate stood at 36.2% with 420 Caesarean births out of 1158 total births.
The rise in C-section rates at Southland Hospital is significantly higher than the national average. In 2023, the national Caesarean rate was recorded at 31.9%, while Southland's figure stood at 41.5%. This represents a nearly 10% difference compared to the national trend.
A spokesperson from Health New Zealand confirmed that national birthing data for 2024 will be available later this year, but preliminary figures from 2023 show that Southland's C-section rate was above the national level.
Nationally, of the 56,746 birthing events in 2023, 18,118 were Caesarean deliveries, including both elective and emergency procedures.
Health New Zealand's acting general manager for Southland Hospital, Joline Wilson, noted several factors contributing to the rise in Caesarean deliveries. These included medical reasons such as breech presentations or previous Caesarean births, and elective decisions made by birthing parents seeking a C-section for personal or health reasons.
"Elective Caesareans are often performed for medical reasons, and while they can put pressure on an already busy theatre schedule, surgeries are always prioritised based on urgency and patient need," Ms Wilson said. "Any decision to delay a non-urgent surgery is made with patient safety as the highest priority."
However, Health New Zealand does not track how many surgeries were delayed due to the high volume of Caesarean deliveries, leading to concerns about the potential impact on other non-urgent procedures.
Alison Eddy, chief executive of the New Zealand College of Midwives, emphasised that the primary goal of midwives is to ensure the wellbeing of both the mother and the baby. While vaginal births have numerous benefits, midwives often refer patients to obstetricians or specialists when complications arise or when a Caesarean may be necessary.
"Midwives and obstetricians work in tandem to ensure the best possible outcome for both the mother and baby," Ms Eddy explained. "New Zealand has a robust healthcare system, providing easy access to both secondary and tertiary services when needed."
Invercargill resident Nathalia Paiva, who is due to give birth to her first child any day now, shared her experience of deciding on a Caesarean delivery. Due to a cyst in her uterus, Ms Paiva was referred to specialists by her midwife and consulted with four different professionals. While one doctor recommended a natural birth, the others presented her with the risks and benefits of both natural and C-section deliveries. After careful consideration, she chose to proceed with a Caesarean.
Despite the decision, Ms Paiva has faced delays in scheduling her surgery due to the high volume of planned procedures at Southland Hospital.
"I'm still waiting for a formal date for my delivery, but if I go into labour, they told me to go straight to the hospital," she said. "In the meantime, I'm just getting everything ready for the arrival of our beloved baby."
