There has been a 15 per cent increase in the number of babies born in Galway since the year 2000, according to the latest statistics from the city's maternity unit.

According to the hospital's Women's and Children's Directorate Annual Clinical Report for 2006, 3, 274 infants were born to 3,225 mothers in 2006, including 47 sets of twins, as well as one set of triplets.

The report also indicated that while there has been a decrease in the number of teenagers giving birth in the city, there has been an increase in the number of women over 40 years of age giving birth. Births to teenagers fell from four per cent of births in 2000 to 2.6 per cent in 2006, while births to women over 40 years of age increased from 4.8 per cent in 2000 to 5.4 per cent in 2006.

There has also been a 'significant' increase in the number of infants born to non-national mothers, according to the report. There were 59 infants born to non-national mothers at the unit in 2000 and the figure for 2006 was to 568 infants ? a tenfold increase.

Writing in the annual report, Department head, Professor John Morrison said this factor represents the multicultural changes that have taken place in Irish society during this time.

The overall caesarean section rate at the hospital was 26.6 per cent, a reduction of 1.6 per cent in comparison to 2005. The induction rate was 26.3 per cent, the lowest in many years, while there was a slight increase in the overall rate of forceps delivery during 2006.

'Slight' improvements were also recorded in the numbers of women who initiated breast feeding and those who remained breast feeding on discharge.

Prof. Morrison said that this may reflect the work done by the newly appointed lactation consultant during 2006 and the maintenance of the hospital's practice in the line with the Baby Friendly Initiative Award received during 2005. However, he observed that the figures remained 'from from ideal' when compared with other European countries.

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