Maternity

Published: July 2023

There were 3,067 births to Wakefield resident mothers in 2022/2023.

Headlines

  • Obesity in early pregnancy is on the rise, from 26.2%  in 2019/20 to 30.6%  in 2022/23.
  • Smoking in early pregnancy has decreased, from 23.1% in 2013/14 to 16.0% in 2022/23.
  • Smoking at delivery has also decreased, from 22.0% in 2013/14 to 14.2% in 2022/23.
  • Young people are less likely to be living with obesity in early pregnancy, compared to older age groups.
  • Young people are more likely to smoke at delivery, compared to older age groups.
  • Women living in the most deprived areas are less likely to breastfeed for the first feed compared to women living in the least deprived areas.
  • Compared to the England average, Wakefield district has…
    • significantly higher proportions of smoking in early pregnancy and at delivery.
    • significantly higher proportions of obesity in early pregnancy.
    • significantly higher proportions of teenage mothers.
    • significantly lower levels of breastfeeding.

Infographic titled “Maternity” on an orange background. The central graphic resembles a stylised ultrasound scan with a simplified outline of a baby inside. Curved text within the scan presents key statistics: 60% of babies received breastmilk at first feed; 14% of expectant mothers were smokers at delivery; and 31% of expectant mothers were obese in early pregnancy. At the bottom, a source note reads “Mid-Yorkshire Teaching Trust 2022/2023,” alongside the Wakefield JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) logo.

How does Wakefield district compare…

nationally?

This section contains the latest nationally published data from the OHID Fingertips – Child and Maternal Health profile.

Compared to the England average, Wakefield district has…

  • significantly higher proportions of smoking in early pregnancy and at delivery.
  • significantly higher proportions of obesity in early pregnancy.
  • significantly higher proportions of teenage mothers.
  • significantly lower levels of breastfeeding.
  • statistically similar proportions of low birth weight babies.

in recent years?

This section contains maternity data for patients booking and delivering at Mid-Yorkshire Teaching Trust (MYTT). This information can be used to look at the needs of patients (and their babies) who have used MYTT; it cannot be used to assess the needs of the general population, as those who have used a different provider are not included.

  • The proportion of births to teenage mothers has decreased from 2.7% in 2007/08-2011/12 to 0.8% in 2018/19-2022/23.
  • Smoking in early pregnancy has decreased, from 23.1% in 2013/14 to 16.0% in 2022/23.
  • Smoking at delivery has decreased, from 22.6% in 2007/08 to 14.2% in 2022/23.
  • Obesity in early pregnancy is on the rise, from 26.2% in 2019/20 to 30.6% in 2022/23.
  • The percentage of full term babies born with a low birth weight is almost unchanged at 3.0% in 2022/23.
  • The proportion of babies receiving breastmilk as their first feed has fluctuated between 50.7% and 67.7% over the last 15 years.

The interactive dashboard below can be used to explore the trends in maternity data over the recent years. Click on the buttons at the bottom to navigate between the different measures.

What are the differences within Wakefield district?

maternal inequalities

This section contains maternity data for patients booking and delivering at Mid-Yorkshire Teaching Trust (MYTT). This information can be used to look at the needs of patients (and their babies) who have used MYTT; it cannot be used to assess the needs of the general population, as those who have used a different provider are not included.

  • Young people are less likely to be living with obesity in early pregnancy compared to older age groups.
  • Young people are more likely to smoke at delivery compared to older age groups.
  • Breastfeeding on the first feed is more likely among those aged over 30 than those in younger age groups.
  • Those living in the most deprived areas are less likely to breastfeed for the first feed compared to those living in the least deprived areas.

The interactive dashboard below can be used to explore the inequalities in maternity data over the recent years. Click on the buttons at the bottom to navigate between the different measures. Use the filters section at the top to explore the different inequalities and periods. The chart and map are colour coded showing the comparison against the district average figure.

Further information

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