London - Kirstie Allsopp has made a scathing attack on natural childbirth experts, accusing them of stigmatising women who have Caesareans.
The TV presenter, whose two sons were delivered by the procedure, claimed that she and thousands of other mothers were being made to feel a “failure”.
She criticised the National Childbirth Trust for being “reckless” in not providing enough information about C-sections in its antenatal classes, which are attended by 100,000 couples every year.
Miss Allsopp said that while pregnant she had even been advised by some natural birth advocates to “ignore” doctors’ advice and try to give birth without medical intervention.
Figures show that more than a quarter of all babies are now delivered by Caesarean, up from just 9 percent 30 years ago. The rates are far higher in more affluent areas of the country, including parts of London and the South-East - which natural birth advocates claim supports the notion that some women are now “too posh to push”.
Miss Allsopp, 39, who lives with her partner, said: “I suspect giving birth naturally is one of the most life-enhancing experiences you can have if it goes well.
“That’s the dream, but for a quarter of women it is not the reality, and we need to make sure they don’t feel like a failure. Because there are people who feel so passionately about what is known as a ‘natural birth’, and seem so against Caesareans, it can seem like there is very little middle ground.
“They seem to be saying that if they had been in our position they would have managed somehow, despite all the medical advice, to give birth naturally.
“There are very few organisations that get away with suggesting you should ignore medical advice, but the NCT does.”
The issue arose as Miss Allsopp filmed an episode of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location property series in Darlington.
One of the househunters told Miss Allsopp she had received minimal information about c-sections in her NCT class, and had felt a failure after having the procedure two months ago.
Miss Allsopp then asked her 95,000 followers on Twitter: “Anyone been on an NCT course recently? Was there any info/ discussion on what happens in the event of you needing a c-section?”
Hundreds responded, many agreeing that they had been given minimal information.
One new mother had apparently been banned from the class held after the birth because she had needed a Caesarean. Her husband wrote: “After C-section my wife and I were the only couple not invited back to NCT group to tell expecting couples about it!”
In response, NCT chief executive Brenda Phipps posted her own message on Twitter insisting that many couples prefer to focus on a natural birth - and it was difficult “fitting everything in” to the short classes.
At this point Miss Allsopp retorted, accusing Miss Phipps of being “reckless”. She added: “I’m a confident woman and know I took the best advice. But it makes me want to cry that some women don’t have the information they need at such an important time. It has to stop.”
Last year it emerged that many women were asking for Caesareans for their second baby because the first birth had been so traumatic.
In a statement the NCT said: “NCT teachers do their best to prepare parents for their birth and the early days of parenthood.
“Although we get overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, we do not always get it right.
“Parents who are unhappy are strongly encouraged to contact us so we can make amends and learn the necessary lessons.” - Daily Mail