THEY’RE too posh by half: a study of Irish births by caesarean section has found that almost 50% were requested by expectant mothers.

The rate of caesarean births in Ireland has increased by 72% in less than 10 years, and a suspicion that this is because more mothers are “too posh to push” has been confirmed by an audit of births.

Last year the government introduced a new coding system that classifies caesareans as either elective or emergency. Preliminary figures show that, last year, 45% were elective, compared with 55% classified as emergency procedures. This compares with an estimated 7.5% elective sections in 1998.

“These figures are staggering,” said Joan Burton, the Labour TD who obtained the information from the Department of Health. Almost 80% of last year’s births have now been collated, indicating that more than 13,000 women had caesareans. The figures do not cover private maternity hospitals.

“All over the world, caesarean sections have become more fashionable, but it is a big operation that has significant risks for women,” Burton said. “Many women are now wondering whether they are truly medically necessary or carried out to facilitate obstetricians working in overcrowded maternity units.”

Doctors say the rate of elective caesareans is fuelled by mothers who have already undergone the procedure for previous births.

“Irish women aren’t too posh to push, yet,” said John Murphy, a consultant paediatrician at Holles Street. “The figures don’t surprise me. The big issue is the number of women who choose, after consulting with their doctor, to have a repeat caesarean. Because of the risk that the scar from the previous cut in the uterus could separate or open during labour and cause complications for the mother and child, many women prefer to go for a repeat caesarean.”

Critics, however, say it is doctors, not women, who are to blame for the increase.

“Because of the way childbirth is actively managed in Irish hospitals, it makes labour and the birth more frightening for women,” said Philomena Canning, an independent midwife. “They are not given the opportunity to give birth naturally. Hospital doctors operate a conveyor belt system of active management; use oxytocin to make contractions come quicker and stronger and readily resort to the use of epidurals, which increases the risk of a caesarean.”

Last year doctors in Britain were told to curb caesarean requests by women who refused natural childbirth or asked doctors to accommodate their busy schedules. The ban followed a number of high-profile “too posh to push” cases in which celebrities such as Victoria Beckham opted for the operation when there were no pressing medical reasons to do so.

The World Health Organisation says the “ideal” caesarean section rate is 15%.

The increase in emergency caesarean sections has been attributed to bigger babies. Last year, doctors at the Rotunda in Dublin discovered that baby girls have gained 1lb 3oz in the past 50 years, with baby boys gaining 14.5oz.

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