Caesareans to be allowed on request
New guidelines by a health watchdog says women should be allowed to have their baby by caesarean section, even if they have no medical or mental health reason for wanting the operation.
A review by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) says women who are anxious about childbirth should have their “fears taken seriously” and be offered mental health support.
Previous guidelines warned that “maternal request” was not an acceptable reason for a caesarean.
But the new recommendations say that if a woman still wants a section after receiving counselling and weighing up the risks of the operation, she should be granted one.
Even if there is no a medical or mental health reason for wanting a section should also be given one, according to the guidance from Nice.
For this group of women, they should first be given full information on the risks and benefits and the opportunity to discuss their views with a member of the obstetrics team.
Deputy chief executive Dr Gillian Leng said: “This guideline is not about giving free caesareans for all on the NHS.
“It is about ensuring that women give birth in the way that is most appropriate for them and their babies.”
Just under one in four births in the UK are by Caesarean section.
Between half and two-thirds of these are carried out in an emergency because of problems with the birth, but the rest are planned.
These planned operations include women who have had complications in pregnancy, such as a low lying placenta, but the majority are women who have had a previous Caesarean.