Hospital births terrify mums

Most women find giving birth in Britain a terrifying experience which leaves them in a state of shock, a survey has revealed.

Fewer than six per cent are choosing a natural birth in hospital as doctors turn labour into an entirely medical procedure.

The research into childbirth reveals that many pregnant mothers are afraid, unsupported by midwives and subjected to surgical procedures which leave them in agony for more than three weeks after giving birth.

Six out of ten said antenatal classes failed to tell the truth about giving birth and eight out of ten said they were frightened during labour.

More than half said the experience was 'far more shocking' than they had thought it would be.

The research into childbirth is the most comprehensive to date with 3,000 mothers taking part. It comes after the Royal College of Midwives warned hospitals face a shortage of midwives, leaving women without the one-to-one care which increases the chances of a safe, natural delivery.

Women are then more likely to have a Caesarean section or assisted delivery, using forceps or suction equipment. Doctors have been accused of meddling to speed up labour and avoid errors which could lead to compensation claims.

Dani Zur, editor of Mother and Baby Magazine, which commissioned the survey, said: 'Birth in Britain today has become a lottery.

'If you happen to go into labour on a day when your maternity unit is fully staffed and there aren't many women giving birth, you're more likely to have a good experience.

'But if your local maternity unit is understaffed and under-resourced, you're not going to be as lucky.

'The result is many women giving birth feeling shocked and depressed by their experience.

'The type of birth they have has more to do with the hospital's agenda than their own birth plan.' The survey found that 96 per cent of women had their baby in hospital and of these, just six per cent had a completely natural birth. Meanwhile, 23 per cent who give birth in hospital had a Caesarean section.

A quarter were induced, 38 per cent had an epidural which left them with little feeling below the waist, 41 per cent had the powerful painkiller pethidine and 24 per cent needed an episiotomy - a surgical incision in the perineum. Almost one in five were given ventouse suction while ten per cent had a forceps delivery.

Overall, 56 per cent of women needed stitches, which may have left them in discomfort for weeks afterwards. More than eight out of ten suffered pain after the birth for an average of 24 days.

Although 76 per cent said they found maternity staff 'helpful and sympathetic', a quarter found them 'lacking in compassion' while 43 per cent said they did not receive good postnatal care.

Mary Newburn, head of policy at the National Childbirth Trust, said: 'It may seem to doctors as if it is just a cut here and a tweak there to help things along, but this is pretty clear that women don't like it.

'The powers that be should take note and try to give women the birth experience they want.'

Who is the average mum?