A new study by NUI Galway and Trinity College in Dublin has outlined the increasing rates of Caesarean sections in Ireland and the decline of natural births after a previous C-section.
The findings will be discussed at a conference today where academics and clinicians will debate the continued decline in the numbers of first time mothers having a natural birth.
The Caesarean section rate in Ireland was 24.6% in 2014.
In 2015, the rate was 32.3% in women having their first baby, and 30% in women having their second or subsequent baby.
The OptiBIRTH study was carried out across a number of maternity hospitals in Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
It found Ireland has one of the lowest rates of natural birth after c-sections in Europe.
Experts say there is an urgent need for greater support for mothers to achieve natural births.
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