Transcript: AOM's BORN Infographic (April 2022 - March 2023)

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Giving birth with midwives in Ontario, based on BORN* data from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023

Where clients give birth

Midwifery clients can choose to give birth in hospital, at home or at a birth centre.

11% gave birth at home, 86% gave birth in a hospital and 2% gave birth at a birth centre.

Birth centres are currently available in Ottawa and Toronto.

Home birth rates

Most clients having their first baby choose to give birth in hospital. But the percentage who choose home birth more than doubles for second or later babies.

6% of clients had their first baby at home.

16% of clients had their second or later baby at home.

Types of birth

72% of clients had a vaginal birth.

6% of clients had a vaginal birth with forceps/vacuum.

22% of clients had a c-section.

6% of clients had an episiotomy.

C-section rates for midwifery clients are lower than the provincial average. The rate is even lower for clients who planned a home birth.

32% of all births in Ontario were delivered via c-section.

22% of midwifery client births were delivered via c-section.

7% of midwifery clients who planned a home birth gave birth via c-section.

Pain relief

15% of clients were given nitrous oxide during labour and birth.

39% of clients were given epidural during labour and birth.

Feeding

71% of babies with midwives were exclusively nursing at six weeks.

Midwives cared for 19%, or 26,494 of Ontario’s 138,448 births.

*BORN (Better Outcomes Registry and Network) is an Ontario-wide database with information about all pregnancies and births in the province. Midwives, family doctors, obstetricians and other healthcare providers are required to enter data into BORN for every pregnancy and birth. The Association of Ontario Midwives can access standardized reports based on data entered into BORN by midwives. This information is aggregated and anonymized. All inferences, opinions, and conclusions drawn in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of BORN Ontario. Cite: Better Outcomes Registry and Network (BORN) Ontario. Years Provided: 2021-2023. Resource Type: Tabulated data. Date of extract: December 5, 2023.