Childbirth has become an axis of self-doubt [ 46] with many women having lost confidence in their ability to birth without intervention and consequently women rely on expertise to validate 'safe choices' as evidenced by the woman whose choice of an elective section was validated by her doctor [[ 10], p398] Safety is a therefore a key narrative discourse that pervades.
Elective caesarean section was seen in 10.1% of all births, but was significantly more common in the early term group, where 26.4% of mothers reported an elective section delivery.
Study design: We conducted an individual chart review of all women who had an elective caesarean section because of a history of two previous sections from 1990 to 1999.
Similarly in case of a dichorionic twin an elective caesarean section may be performed because of the position of the presentation of the first twin.
Many studies do not differentiate women who have an emergency caesarean section in labour from those having an elective caesarean section prior to commencement of labour [ 36, 38- 46, 48, 48, 51- 54].
Births are categorised based on whether an elective caesarean section or induction of labour has been performed, and among the remaining 'non-elective births', acute caesareans were registered.
Variables that significantly increased the likelihood of an elective caesarean section were overweight, obesity, older age, a family history of diabetes, and premature delivery.
To Summarise the Cost of an elective Caesarean Section Allowing for high staff costs this figure becomes £1,992.47 To convert these figures into an emergency caesarean section £447, the vaginal delivery cost, is added.
Women from the freestanding midwifery unit group were significantly less likely to have an elective caesarean section, and the adjusted odds of requiring an intrapartum caesarean section were not significant.
"The advocacy of an elective Caesarean section for patients who have no pelvic obstruction will undoubtedly come as a shock to many members of the profession".
Similar recommendations have been included in guidance from other countries [ 10] and recent publications have provided further evidence on the relationship between the timing of an elective caesarean section and neonatal respiratory illness [ 6, 7, 11- 14].
