Healthy women may soon be able to opt for caesareans on NHS

Previously, women were expected to give birth naturally unless there was a medical reason not to.

But now healthy women can choose to undergo the procedure, according to a draft report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

The guidelines are being changed as caesarean sections are now much safer than in the past.

There have been rare cases where women have persuaded doctors to carry out a caesarean section when it was not medically necessary.

The report is due to be published next month after being checked for any factual errors.

A Nice spokesman said: “This is a draft report and is due for publication next month after consultation. As a result the report could change.”

Doctors who do not wish to carry out the procedure for non-medical or ethical reasons will be able to refer women who want a caesarean to other doctors who are willing to do so, it was reported.

Women will also have to talk through their reasons for wanting the operation with doctors and midwives before being able to finalise their decision.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Nice are currently consulting on draft guidance relating to caesarean sections. Final guidance will be published in November.”

Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: “We are pleased to see the focus on a good discussion of the evidence that includes the risks of caesarean section and the implication for future pregnancies and we are confident that when women are fully aware of the evidence they will not be asking for inappropriate caesarean sections.

“We are pleased to see the recommendation for women who have such anxiety about birth ‘be referred to a health professional with expertise in providing perinatal mental health support’.”