By Maternal Age
Among Simcoe Muskoka residents who gave birth in 2018, seven-in-ten (71.2% (70.0%, 72.4%)) had a vaginal birth. Similarly, 71.1% (70.8%, 71.3%) pregnant individuals who gave birth in 2018 across Ontario had a vaginal birth.
Three-in-ten (28.8% (27.6%, 30.0%)) Simcoe Muskoka residents delivered their newborn via Caesarean section (C-section). Approximately forty five per cent (44.8% (40.3%, 47.4%)) of C-sections were unplanned, a similar percentage (42.9% (40.3%, 45.5%)) was planned as scheduled, and the remaining percentage (12.2% (10.6%, 14.0%)) was planned but not as scheduled. Similarly, 28.9% (28.7%, 29.2%) of Ontario residents who gave birth in 2018 delivered via C-section. The main indications for C-section in both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario were previous C-section, non-progressive labour, abnormal fetal surveillance, and malposition of fetus. The C-section rate in Simcoe Muskoka has not changed significantly since BORN data became available in 2013.
Just under half (44.5% (42.0%, 47.0%)) of c-sections in Simcoe Muskoka were repeat caesarean deliveries in 2018. This is similar to Ontario overall for 2018 with 43.0% (41.9%, 44.0%) of c-sections were repeat caesarean deliveries.
By Maternal Age
The c-section rate increases with maternal age. Approximately one third (35.9% (32.9%, 38.9%)) of those aged 35-49 years underwent a c-section compared to one-in-five (20.9% (17.5%, 24.3%)) 15-24 year olds and 28.2% (26.7%, 29.7%) of 25-34 year olds.
