Birth rates rising in England and Wales
- Expected births in 2012 - 423,234 males and 403,095 females.
- There were 688,120 live births in England in 2011 up over 124,000 since the start of the baby boom in 2001.
- There were 723,913 live births in England and Wales in 2011, compared with 723,165 in 2010 (a rise of 0.1 per cent). There were 594,634 in 2001.
- The small rise in 2011 represents a continuation of the increasing numbers of live births recorded since 2001.
- During this period the number of live births has risen by 22 per cent from 594,634 in 2001 despite a small fall between 2008 and 2009.
Celebrities and sports stars back midwife campaign
A host of celebrities and sports personalities have joined a campaign calling for more midwives in England.
RCM calls for thousands more midwives
The Royal College of Midwives has launched an online petition calling for 5,000 more midwives in the NHS in England.