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| Babies boom by a fifth in a decade - ONS | Babies boom by a fifth in a decade - ONS |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News | |
| The number of babies born in England and Wales has increased by more than a fifth in the past decade, figures show. | The number of babies born in England and Wales has increased by more than a fifth in the past decade, figures show. |
| Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed there were 723,913 live births in 2011, up from 594,634 in 2001. | |
| Twins, triplets and other multiple births also increased over the decade, partly due to fertility treatments. | Twins, triplets and other multiple births also increased over the decade, partly due to fertility treatments. |
| The figures also showed a drop in the number of babies born at home rather than in hospital. | The figures also showed a drop in the number of babies born at home rather than in hospital. |
| There were 352,939 girls and 370,974 boys born in England and Wales in 2011. | There were 352,939 girls and 370,974 boys born in England and Wales in 2011. |
| There have been year on year increases in births since 2001 except for a small dip in 2009. | There have been year on year increases in births since 2001 except for a small dip in 2009. |
| The sheer number of births has raised concerns from midwives about the health service's ability to cope. | The sheer number of births has raised concerns from midwives about the health service's ability to cope. |
| The Royal College of Midwives warned last month that maternity units were "under intense strain" and were at a "crucial tipping point". | The Royal College of Midwives warned last month that maternity units were "under intense strain" and were at a "crucial tipping point". |
| However, the government says the number of midwives is now increasing faster than the birth rate. | However, the government says the number of midwives is now increasing faster than the birth rate. |
| The boom is also putting pressure on school places with some projections estimating that 450,000 new primary places would be needed in England alone by 2015. | The boom is also putting pressure on school places with some projections estimating that 450,000 new primary places would be needed in England alone by 2015. |
| One factor behind the rise is though to be immigration. Figures show 24% of births in 2011 were to foreign-born women. | One factor behind the rise is though to be immigration. Figures show 24% of births in 2011 were to foreign-born women. |
| Twins | |
| In 2011, 11,330 women gave birth to twins, 172 to triplets and 3 had quads or more. | |
| This has become more common since 2001 with more than 16 in every 1,000 deliveries now involving multiple births. | |
| Fertility treatment is far more likely to result in multiple births than natural conception. | |
| The ONS report said: "With approximately 11,000 IVF babies being born each year this contributes significantly to the multiple birth rate." | |
| The fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, aims to reduce the multiple birth rate. | |
| Its latest figures showed 35% of IVF cycles now involved the transfer of just one embryo. |