LIVERPOOL’S top midwife last night welcomed new guidance to give pregnant women the choice of having a Caesarean.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the option should be given to women who are genuinely fearful of childbirth or have had difficult births previously.

But the authority said it was not recommending offering the procedure for all mothers-to-be.

Cathy Atherton, head of Midwifery at Liverpool Women's, said: “We already give women this choice now for a number of reasons.

“If a woman has had a really traumatic time with a previous birth and cannot face the risk of a similar experience, we would agree to her opting for an elective Caesarean.

“Also, we work with women who actually suffer from what is a recognised phobia around childbirth.

“What we need to inform women about is that it is not a level playing field in terms of risk.

“Caesareans are very safe now, but it is an operation with known risks associated with that – anaesthetic, bleeding, blood clots, so there is more risk than with a natural birth.”

Some pregnant women say they have had to fight to get a Caesarean on the NHS when they feel they have a genuine reason to justify one. It is hoped the guidelines will prevent this and make the situation across England fairer.