Evidence suggests that thousands of avoidable caesareans are performed each year. Just 25 years ago only one in 20 pregnant women had a caesarean birth. Now one in every six pregnant women in the UK has a caesarean, and in some hospitals the rate is as high as one in four. As a result, many women are losing confidence in their ability to give birth without intervention. Anecdotal reports of some obstetricians have attributed some of the rise in the caesarean section rate to an increasing number of women requesting a caesarean when there is no clinical need for one.
Some doctors grant such requests on the grounds of supporting choice for women.
However, the NCT has questioned whether all women are given balanced information about the relative benefits, risks and alternatives. Each caesarean birth costs the NHS about 760 more than the cost of a normal delivery. The health risks to mothers and babies associated with caesarean section are well established. There is limited research evidence to demonstrate the extent and influence of women s participation in decision making leading to caesarean section, or on women s reasons for requesting a caesarean. The validity of other estimates is difficult to assess due to differing and inconsistent definitions of maternal request.