A quarter of babies born in the UK are currently delivered by Caesarean section. About 15% are emergency Caesareans, where complications arise during labour. The remainder are planned, where it's decided in advance that a C-section is the safest way

Zoe Ball, Victoria Beckham and Liz Hurley did it. Jordan's done it twice. So if it happens to you, it may help to know lots of other women have trodden the same path. One in five births in Britain are now by Caesarean. There's even a ‘Caesarean

Midwife Katie says: A planned Caesarean is far less problematic when it comes to breastfeeding than an emergency C-section. You'll probably have a spinal anaesthetic and be awake for the delivery. Try to talk to the midwife who'll be in theatre

Amanda Holden has spent three nights in intensive care in hospital after the emergency delivery of baby girl, Hollie.Hollie Rose Hughes was delivered by Caesarean section on Monday and is now in a special care unit, weighing 6lb 1oz.Amanda is said

Consultant Leonie replies: It's recommended that at least a year is left between births after a Caesarean, owing to fears about the scar splitting during labour if the interval between births is very short. There isn't much evidence but there doesn

Midwife Nikki replies:There's not much difference between clips or stitches, as long as they're kept as clean and dry as possible. Stitches can be individual stitches or a long running stitch, often secured with a bead at each end. On the fifth day, the midwife cuts the bead at o...

Midwifery Head Katie replies:This is a fairly common problem after a C-section and is due to the fact that tiny nerve endings responsible for sensation have been cut with the incision. Nerve tissue takes longer than any other body tissue to regenerate, so you may have some loss o...

It's a topic barely touched on in antenatal classes, and unless you're having a planned one, something you may not want to think about.But as almost a quarter of all births in the UK are by Caesarean section, it's worth finding out what they entail

Consultant Leonie Penna replies: A Caesarean where there is no medical need is often called a ‘maternal request' Caesarean. It can be granted as a privilege but it can't be demanded as a right. A Caesarean section is a safe operation and when

interventions are:Stopping smokingPromoting single pregnancies in IVF treatmentReducing planned early Caesarean sectionsProviding progesterone supplements to women with high-risk pregnanciesProviding cervical stitching for women suffering a weak cervix