International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said caesarean sections (CS) should only be carried out "where clinically indicated".

According to the organisation, the procedure must only be performed after "full and detailed" discussions have taken place between the mother, an obstetrics specialist and the midwife.

The RCM said this has been demonstrated by a recent study from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which revealed nearly one in ten women suffer an infection after giving birth with the CS method.

Gail Johnson, education and professional development adviser at RCM, commented: "Women who develop an infection post-natally are likely to feel less able to provide care to their baby."

She warned that this can also slow down the amount of time it takes for a new mother to "recover from the birth".

Research by the HPA had found signs of infection in 9.6 per cent of the women who had undergone CS.

Posted by Alexandra George