Allowing women to make a more informed choice for their second birth might help reduce unnecessary surgery, writes Christine Catling-Paull.

In the developed world the topic of caesarean section often gives rise to an emotional debate. Some view the caesarean section with disdain and fear, whereas many women have caesarean sections as a matter of necessity. Health professionals have a polarity of views on the subject. In truth, caesareans can be life-saving operations for many mothers and babies. However, never have the rates of a surgical technique increased so quickly in such a short time span than the caesarean section operation. A third of women have caesarean sections in Australia. More than half of these are repeat...