Statistical Services - BC Vital Statistics Agency

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Maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery were noted in 20,413 live births in 2001. Included in these maternal complications are early or threatened labour (preterm) births, assisted or surgical deliveries where no cause was given, and elderly primigravida (first births to women aged 35 or older). Just over half (50.6%) of all live births in 2001 involved maternal complications.
The percentage of live births with maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery increased with the age of mother. Teenage mothers had maternal complications in 44.7% of their births. In the age groups 20-29 and 30-39, maternal complications occurred in 46.5% and 53.9% of live births, respectively. For mothers aged 40 or older, the proportion rose to more than three in five (62.6%).
The largest categories of maternal complications of pregnancy and delivery were assisted or surgical deliveries where no cause was given (22.4%) and maternal abnormality of pelvic organs (13.5%). These complications combined accounted for more than a third (35.9%) of all maternal complications.

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