To push or not to push? Choosing to deliver by caesarean section.
Research published this week in the British Medical Journal shows that babies born by elective caesarean section are more likely to have breathing trouble after birth. This is especially the case for babies who are mildly premature (1 to 3 weeks early).
These results are important, since the rates of elective caesarean sections are high in the UK (as in many countries). These rates are higher in middle class mothers, a group that has been labelled “too posh to push”. But how should doctors respond to a request for a caesarean section by a mother (where there is no medical indication)? Do the increased risks of caesarean section justify placing restrictions on maternal choice?
Read More »To push or not to push? Choosing to deliver by caesarean section.