Statistical Services - BC Vital Statistics Agency

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Approximately two thirds (61.6%) of live births in 2002 were delivered spontaneously: 61.2% (24,404) were spontaneous vertex (head first) and 0.4% (148) were spontaneous breech (buttocks or feet first). One in 26 births required the use of forceps (1,552 births) and one in 15 used vacuum (2,645 births).
In 2002, more than a quarter of all live births (27.9%) were delivered by cesarean section (11,144) and almost two thirds of these (64.6%) were first cesareans(7,196). The 2002 cesarean section rate was 279.35 per 1,000 live births.
Among teenage mothers (less than 20 years of age), one in six live births (16.9%) were delivered by cesarean section(272 births). Of these, 5.5% (15) were repeat cesarean sections.
Just over one in four live births to mothers aged 20 to 34 (26.3%) were delivered by cesarean section (7,964). Of these deliveries, 33.6% (2,677) were repeat C-sections .
For mothers aged 35 or older, more than one in three live births (36.2%) was delivered by cesarean section (2,907). Of these deliveries, 43.2% (1,256) were repeat C-sections.

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