[Trends in birth statistics in Europe].

Obstetrics services in Europe are dominated by a persistently low birth rate, the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime now being 1,45 for the European Community in general. This low rate has persisted for the last 20 years. During the past 10 years, childlessness has been steadily increasing. Maternal age at first delivery has also increased. Obstetric departments are increasingly subject to market principles and the trend towards centralization, which has been developing for some years, will continue.