Tens of millions of data points tell the unique, exciting, life-changing, sometimes heartbreaking stories of how new life enters the world.

We've analysed all those numbers to tell you the key stats about how each part of the process works where you live, and how that compares with other parts of the country.

Enter your postcode or the name of your health board, or click around the map, to find out.

Return to the top of the interactive map to explore a different area by either clicking on a new part of the country, or searching for a new postcode or health board.

What we found - differences across UK nations

There is no single part of the country that stands out as being either bad or good across all measures.

For many metrics, like whether births are induced or delivered via C-section for example, higher or lower percentages are a matter of personal preference rather than an obvious representation of success or failure in either direction.

However, it is interesting that Wales is the last remaining UK nation where "natural", unassisted vaginal births still make up more than half of all babies delivered.

Scotland has the highest C-section rate, while Northern Ireland has the highest rate of births assisted with instruments like forceps or ventouses. Mothers in England are least likely to have their labour medically induced.

Midwifery units in England appear to be more stretched in terms of staffing compared with the other UK nations - there are more than 20 births per midwife per year in England, compared with just 13 in Scotland, 15 in Northern Ireland and 17 in Wales.

The staffing ratio is a crude measure, however. It doesn't take into account the experience level of midwives or how many of them are in patient-facing roles.

It also doesn't appear to be linked directly to worse outcomes. Birth injuries to mothers are more common in Scotland than England, for example, despite there being more midwives per baby. Data on mothers' birth injuries is not available for Wales or Northern Ireland.

Read more:
Maternity crisis - what it's like to give birth in the UK

Which local areas stand out

At health board level, figures that might appear concerning are not necessarily indicative of poor performance. Some areas face more complex cases than others, so worse outcomes may be inevitable regardless of standards of medical care.

That said, analysis of our data shows that the Nottingham & Nottinghamshire care board ranks poorly across each of the three "staff/procedure" measures - how many mothers had their first antenatal appointments within the recommended 10 weeks, how many were assigned a named midwife during pregnancy, and the ratio of midwives to babies.

It is also one of the parts of the country with the highest rate of birth injuries to mothers.

A report by Donna Ockenden, published last week, found that hundreds of babies and mothers at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust were either harmed or died as a result of failures by medical staff between 2012 and 2025.

The trust has apologised "unreservedly" to those affected - and following the report said "important changes have been made" to its services.

Our data covers what's happened in the 12 months to March 2026.

Watch:
Inside UK's maternity crisis | Sky News investigation

At the other end of the scale, Humber and North Yorkshire scores highly across each of the three admin measures, and has better health outcomes than average for both mothers and babies.

People giving birth in Mid and South Essex have unusually high rates of both inductions and emergency C-sections. The number of planned C-sections has also almost doubled there in the last two years.

In both Fife and the Forth Valley, two neighbouring health boards north of Edinburgh and Glasgow, more than 40% of mothers had their labours induced - double the proportion in Birmingham and Solihull.

Birth instruments were almost five times more likely to be used in certain parts of the country - Belfast or Lothian (which covers Edinburgh) for example, compared with Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin on the English border with Wales.

Use our tool to search again for other areas to see how they compare across each of these measures.

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

In an email sent to staff on Tuesday, seen by Sky News, the BBC's 2026 annual pay review plan suggests an increase of 1%, with a minimum of £500 for full-time staff.

The current annual rate of inflation is 2.8%.

Unions have rejected the offer, saying it could leave many staff "worse off" due to cost of living pressures.

Earlier this month, the BBC announced it would be cutting 550 roles, axing several radio shows and reviewing the positions of its chief news presenters, in the first phase of a major downsizing plan as it seeks to make hundreds of millions of pounds worth of savings over the next few years.

In its pay email, the BBC said the 1% offer had not been agreed with its recognised unions, which include media and entertainment union Bectu, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Unite, and that talks would continue involving conciliation service, Acas, over the coming weeks.

Members of the BBC's executive committee, which includes the new director-general Matt Brittin, will not receive a pay increase this year.

Staff have been reminded the broadcaster is facing "difficult financial realities that require careful decision-making" - and as such, decisions involving significant investment must be "responsible and sustainable for the future".

One employee told Sky News: "At a time when jobs and output are under threat - and staff are being stretched further - only being offered a 1% rise feels like an insult.

"Staff are being asked to do more and more as resources are squeezed. And while we report on inflation and cost of living, being offered a pay rise below the rate of inflation seems particularly ironic. It's all a bit bleak, really."

The BBC is predominantly funded through the annual licence fee, which rose to £180 per year on 1 April.

The fee is guaranteed until the end of 2027, which is when the current BBC charter expires - which sets out the arrangements for governance, as well as recognising the BBC's editorial independence and setting out its public obligations.

Bosses are under pressure to come up with an alternative funding model as audience habits continue to shift, with huge competition from streamers such as Netflix and Disney+.

The corporation has previously suggested the licence fee could be cut if more people paid the annual fee, reporting that 94% of adults use the service every month - but only about 80% of households pay.

'Not acceptable'

In a statement, Bectu head Philippa Childs said the union recognised the pressures the BBC is facing, but that "an offer of only 1% to staff is simply not acceptable when there is a very real cost-of-living crisis".

The pay offer "further highlights the need for a long-term funding solution for the BBC", she said, adding: "We hope that attempts to come to an acceptable agreement with assistance from ACAS are successful."

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The NUJ said the offer, which follows several months of negotiations, would amount to a real-terms pay cut for members and failed to recognise the current pressures on staff.

"This offer falls far short of what our members deserve and would leave many worse off in real terms," said NUJ general secretary Laura Davison.

"BBC journalists and media workers continue to deliver accurate, independent, locally relevant and universally accessible journalism in increasingly difficult circumstances."

The broadcaster "must invest" in the "talented and experienced staff who make its public service journalism possible", she added.

Chesterfield Coroner's court heard Jonathan Morgan also made comments about her weight and relationship while he was the manager of the club's women's team.

Cusack, 27, was found unresponsive at her home by her father in Horsley, Derbyshire, in September 2023. She died the same day.

Her girlfriend at the time, fellow United professional footballer Grace Riglar, said Cusack was "anxious" about Jonathan Morgan joining the club in February 2023 after her experience working with him at Leicester City years earlier.

She told the inquest: "I think it was stuff she told me about her previous experience prior to Jonathan coming to Sheffield.

"I think she said that they played a game against a team while Jonathan was the manager. She had done something on the pitch and Jonathan called her a psycho from the sideline.

"I don't think she let anyone know those types of comments affected her but they did and they made her uncomfortable."

Ms Riglar said Mr Morgan joining Sheffield United was a big cause of Cusack's stress, which coincided with her being unhappy at the club.

She added that Cusack thought the coach made a "personal attack" by not putting her in the starting line-up for matches, something which she saw as a "setback" and "impacted her a lot".

"I just think she almost felt like it was a bit of a personal attack and that Jonathan was playing mind games with her by starting her one week and dropping her the next," she said. "She just felt those little things were intentional."

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Comments about relationship and weight

Ms Riglar told the inquest Mr Morgan also made comments about Cusack's relationship with her.

When he joined the Blades, Ms Riglar said he told players in the first meeting that if anyone was in a relationship within the team, they had to tell him.

"She found it uncomfortable when Jonathan would call me 'Mrs Cusack', especially in front of other players," she added.

"We wanted to keep our relationship very professional. The football side and relationship side were very separate."

Ms Riglar also told the court Mr Morgan made a comment about Cusack's weight and she changed her eating and exercise habits.

The footballer told the coroner Cusack had become "paranoid" at the start of the new season.

"She didn't really have anyone she could speak to without it getting back to Jonathan," she added.

'She didn't want to go back to playing football'

The inquest heard Cusack had a sick note from a doctor to have time off football and her marketing job at the Women's Super League 2 team.

She had also been prescribed anti-anxiety medication, the inquest was told.

Before her death, Cusack told her girlfriend she wanted to move to Dubai and be a flight attendant, and had been looking for a new job online.

Ms Riglar told the coroner: "She didn't want to go back to playing football. I don't think she really knew how to get out of that situation."

The inquest continues.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.

Police were called at 1.47am on Tuesday to the incident at the junction of Bath Road and Great Southwest Road in Hounslow.

Officers and paramedics attended the scene and found a 22-year-old man with serious injuries.

He was pronounced dead on site, despite the best efforts of emergency services.

No arrests have been made and roads around the scene remain closed, with a large crime scene in place.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who is leading the investigation, said "everything possible" was done to save the victim.

"Our thoughts remain with his family and friends," he said.

"This is a fast-paced investigation, and enquiries are ongoing.

"Patrols from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team have been increased in the area and anyone with any concerns is asked to speak to officers."

He also asked the public to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation.

He said: "Any information, no matter how minor it may seem, could prove crucial. CCTV, doorbell or mobile phone footage may provide vital evidence."

The victim's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Jacob Calland was a passenger on the back of the e-scooter and suffered "irreversible" severe brain injuries from the crash in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on 19 March last year. He died in hospital a few days later.

His 14-year-old e-scooter rider, whose mother had only bought the vehicle two weeks before, also sustained serious injuries, including a bleed on the brain and numerous fractures.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to an 18-month rehabilitation order on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving.

Manchester Crown Court heard that while the exact speed of the e-scooter when it was struck by a BMW on Southmoor Road at the junction of Timpson Road could not be determined, it was in a "turbo mode" setting of up to 28mph.

Judge Suzanne Goddard KC told the teenager, now aged 15: "It is clear from dashcam footage, CCTV and eyewitness statements that you were driving at speed when you entered the junction and too fast for you and the driver to avoid the collision.

"I am satisfied your actions were reckless. You were seeking the thrill of riding a scooter at high speed and not thinking of the danger you were placing yourself and Jacob in.

"The e-scooter should not have been used on a public road at all. The use of privately owned e-scooters remains illegal on public roads, cycle lanes, pavements and public parks."

The court heard the boy had a "very unstable, traumatic upbringing", rarely attended school and had not taken a cycling proficiency course, but he has also made "remarkable progress" since the crash after he moved out of the area to live with his father, who was present in court with his son.

Victim's mother 'disappointed' with outcome

Jude Goddard said a pre-sentence report and a psychiatric assessment showed the teenager is "genuinely and deeply remorseful… and is struggling with his feelings of guilt for what he did", adding that Jacob was the boy's friend and he is "deeply upset at the devastation caused to his family".

"I consider that because of his age, background and lack of maturity his culpability is much lower than otherwise would be the case," she said.

She explained sending the teenager to custody "would put him at risk of serious mental health issues, damage his education prospects and increase his risk of reoffending".

The teenager, who had no previous convictions or cautions, was also banned from driving for five years.

Jacob's mother, Carly Calland, said she was "very disappointed" and "not happy" with the verdict.

"I don't think it's giving people the right message. I would have liked a custodial sentence. At the end of the day, he has taken a life," she said outside the court.

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Driver spared jail after not stopping at fatal e-scooter crash
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Earlier, she had read her victim impact statement to the court, saying: "My heart has been smashed into a thousand pieces and there is nothing that can be done to fix it.

"Jacob's toothbrush is still in the bathroom and his favourite noodles are still in the kitchen cupboard. The house is so quiet without him and I miss him so much.

"The collision happened on a main road very close to my home. I broke down in tears and had a panic attack just trying to cross the road for the first time after Jacob's death.

"I now avoid driving if I can because I am petrified I could collide with an e-scooter."