The NCT is launching a campaign to raise the priority given to maternity care on the day the government's five-year 'Changing Childbirth' strategy comes to an end. The strategy aimed to put women at the centre of maternity care.

The NCT says that, although many of the schemes launched on the back of the strategy have been a success, several have had to close because of lack of funds.

It wants to see an ongoing national strategy to give women the information they need to make informed choices about maternity and postnatal care.

Ten-point strategy

It has launched its own 10-point strategy which urges the government to make maternity care a crucial part of its healthcare programme. "After all, all of us use maternity care, even if it is just at the beginning of our lives" said an NCT spokeswoman.

One area of concern is the increase in the number of Caesarian section deliveries being carried out.

A report by the Audit Commission earlier this year said doctors themselves were worried at the high number of Caesarians being undertaken in some areas.

The national average is now 17%, compared with 5.3% in 1973. "Each time the rate increases by 1%, it costs £5m," said the NCT spokeswoman.

In some areas, the use of Caesarians is twice that in others.

The trust wants the government to investigate why this is the case. There are many theories, one of them being that doctors are worried at worried about complications developing in the delivery and are covering their backs in case they are sued.

In the USA, where litigation is common in medical cases, around 30% of births are delivered by Caesarian.

Risk

"It is not just the cost that is the problem. Women are four times more likely to die in Caesarian births," said a spokeswoman for the trust.

"There is a greater chance of infection and women take at least six weeks to recover. Caesarians can be essential, but the number of non-emergency Caesarians is rising."

She added that women were often not fully informed about Caesarian operations and were "swept along in a medical tide over which they have no control". This could lead to post-natal depression and other illnesses.

She said those looked after by a known midwife often got better advice on maternity care and could make more informed choices about delivery.

Resources

The NCT is calling for a halt to the rise in Caesarian operations, an increase in the number of midwives and better postnatal care and community support.

Pregnancy should be woman-centred, says the NCT

The NCT highlights several pioneering maternity schemes which have produced good results over the past five years, but which have been closed due to a lack of resources.

One is a scheme in Shrewsbury, which allocated a particular midwife to each pregnant woman. It was axed, despite good results.