There has been a rise in the number of Medway mums having elective caesareans, as midwives warn of the dangers.

In 2011, there were 462 elective c-sections carried out in Medway – 9.3% of all births. In 2012, this rose to 566 women – 10.7% of all births.

The figures have been revealed as the Royal College of Midwives said it is concerned by an increase in the caesarean rate across the UK – particularly elective operations.

Director for midwifery Louise Silverton said: “This is a major surgical procedure that should not be entered into lightly.

“We would encourage women to talk about their birth with their midwife or doctor so that they are fully aware of the implications of decisions they may make, not just about having a caesarean section but other aspects of birth also.

“We need to ensure that women have more time with midwives in the antenatal period to discuss these issues.

“We know too often that this is not the case as midwives face pressure to cope with the rising demands on their time because of the increasing birthrate.”

Virginia Howes is an independent midwife who works across Medway and Kent.

She said: “It [a caesarean] carries the risk of any other major abdominal surgery and natural childbirth doesn’t carry those risks.

“There are also psychological risks. Mothers that have caesarean sections are less likely to have a strong bond with their child and less likely to breast feed, which has long term health consequences for the child.

“Caesarean section is a lifesaving operation for the minority of women and babies and should be used thus.

“If a woman saw the same midwife throughout (her pregnancy) that might help with these situations. Care is generally very fragmented in the NHS and that doesn’t help because a women doesn’t know who to trust and who to turn to for true and unbiased information so that she can make a truly informed choice.”

New mum Gabrielle Butler, 28, from Bull Lane, Higham, had her daughter at Medway Maritime Hospital in January this year.

She desperately wanted to have a natural birth but Natalia corrwas in the breach position so Gabrielle had to have a c-section. She feels women should be given more information, especially the effects the c-section can have after the birth.

She said: “I still look back and don’t like that I had to have a section but the staff were amazing and made us feel so relaxed.

“But I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the aftermath of it, like not being mobile and just how much it takes out of you.

“My husband literally had to hand me the baby to feed and take her away again - I struggled with that.

“The experience is always going to be different for everybody but for me, being a first-time mum, it was so overwhelming and having a major operation on top of that was a lot to deal with.

“I would say more information would have helped.”