Statistics About Births in the US

Every year the CDC publishes data on pregnancies and births from the preceding year. The document uses data derived from birth certificates and contains a wealth of information about how, where and when babies are born in the United States. The data reflects societal trends in childbearing, effects of public health programs and are just plain interesting (to an obstetrician anyway!). So what are some interesting statistics about the births of the 4,025,933 babies born in 2001?

Who are having the babies? The birth rate for teenagers continues to decline, falling to 46 births per 1000 teens age 15-19; this is a decline of 26% since 1991. Teen pregnancy rates also fell reflecting decreases in both birth and abortion rates. The birth rate for women in their 20s declined by 2% whereas the birth rate for women in their thirties increased by 2%. Births to women in their 40s also continue to increase. The age of first birth has increased from 22.1 in 1970 to 24.8 years in 2001. About one third of all babies are born to unmarried women a rate that is slightly higher than in previous years. 78% of mothers who gave birth in 2001 had 12 or more years of education, 25% have a college degree.

When are they being born? Is there a correlation with weather patterns or a full moon? Unfortunately that is not information recorded on birth certificates but it does appear that births peak during the summer with August having the most babies born (361,802) and February (303,534) the least. On average 11,030 babies were born each day in 2001. However babies are more likely to be born during the week than on weekends with Tuesdays having the highest average number of births (12,496) and Sundays the lowest (7,637).

How are they being born? Babies are either born vaginally or by cesarean section and the debate about the cesarean section rate continues to rage. The cesarean section rate continues to increase with 24.4 % of babies born by cesarean section in 2001. This is partly due to a declining enthusiasm for vaginal births after cesarean section (VBAC) with more mothers and their physicians choosing repeat cesareans. The rate of VBACs fell by 20%. However the incidence of initial cesarean sections also increased by 5% with 16.9% of births by primary cesarean section. Medical complications of pregnancy and older maternal ages were factors contributing to the rise in cesarean section rates. As expected the rate of babies born with the assistance of forceps or vacuum decreased with the increasing cesarean section rate. The rate of induction of labor continues to increase accounting for 20% of births.

Where are they being born? 99% of all babies were born in hospitals; those babies not delivered in hospitals were born at freestanding birthing centers or at home. 91% of hospital deliveries were by physicians, 8% by midwives. There was an increase in births in only one state, Colorado, but a significantly decreased birth rate in sixteen states. Fertility rates also varied by state ranging from 95 births per 1000 women in Utah to 48 per 1000 women in Vermont, in Massachusetts there were 59 births per 1000 women. 81,073 babies were born in Massachusetts in 2001.

Women who become pregnant are receiving more timely prenatal care with 84% of women initiating prenatal care in their first trimester. Cigarette smoking by pregnant women is a preventable cause of many adverse pregnancy outcomes. Public health efforts to decrease smoking amongst pregnant women appear to be effective with a decrease from 19.5% in 1989 to 12% of women giving birth in 2001. The most common medical complications of pregnancy are hypertension, diabetes and anemia. The most common complications of labor and delivery are meconium, fetal distress, breech presentation, dysfunctional labor and premature rupture of the membranes.

We are fortunate to live in a country where most women have choices as to where and when they will have their babies and where there is access to competent medical care.