The Guardian - From natural birth to caesarean: women must be given unbiased information (13 June 2022)

Summary

In this article for The Guardian, Dr Kara Thompson, an obstetrician and gynaecologist working in the public hospital system in Geelong and Melbourne, Australia, argues that women must be given clear and unbiased information in order to make informed decisions about their birth preferences. She highlights the case of an information brochure about caesarean birth published on the website of a hospital in New South Wales, which presented incorrect claims about the relative risks presented by vaginal and caesarean birth. She outlines how the leaflet indicates that the way women are informed about birth choices is still subject to fear-mongering and shaming, and highlights the need for healthcare workers to respect maternal choice and autonomy.