Australia's mothers and babies

Resuscitation is undertaken to establish independent breathing and heartbeat or to treat depressed respiratory effect and to correct metabolic disturbances. Active resuscitation methods range from less advanced methods like suction or oxygen therapy to more advanced methods, such as external cardiac massage and ventilation.

Data are for liveborn babies only. Due to a change in collection of data on resuscitation method, data are available from 2019. Note that babies can receive more than one type of active resuscitation method.

The rate of liveborn babies who did not require active resuscitation remained relatively stable between 2019 and 2023, ranging between 79 per 100 and 81 per 100. 

Figure 1 presents trend data on the active resuscitation status of liveborn babies, by selected maternal and baby characteristics, between 2019 and 2023. Select the ‘Current data’ button to view 2023 data.

Where resuscitation was required, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation was the most commonly used method and external cardiac compressions was the least common method.

In 2023, liveborn babies were less likely to require active resuscitation if they:

• were born at term (81 per 100 liveborn babies did not require resuscitation)
• were born with a normal birthweight (81 per 100)
• had an Apgar score of 7 or more (80 per 100).