Caesarean theory

There is no evidence to support "too posh to push" argument as far as caesareans is concerned.

A new study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that there is no evidence to support the "too posh to push" argument as far as the frequency of people opting for caesareans is concerned.

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The study involved the analysis of NHS hospital data by Dr. Foster. Researchers examined NHS hospital episode statistics data from 2001-2 and determined the social and economic status of mothers, based on their place of residence.

It was found that women living in the poorest areas of England were less likely to have an elective caesarean, but otherwise increasing affluence was not associated with having an elective Caesarean.

The figures did not include births in private hospitals, but as there are only three private maternity hospitals in England and the relatively small numbers of deliveries involved is unlikely to affect the results.

"Our results suggest that it is not so much a case of "too posh to push" within the NHS; it may be more a case of "too proletarian for a caesarean," the authors said.