The UK now has an unacceptably high Caesarean rate

Mary Newburn, National Childbirth Trust

Natural childbirth campaigners said midwife support would reduce Caesareans and other interventions, benefiting mothers and children.

However, the DoH figures, from the Hospital Episodes Statistics on births in England. show a continuing rising trend in Caesareans.

There has been a seven-fold increase in the rate of Caesareans since the 1950s.

It almost doubled in the last decade, and the latest figures show a 3% increase from around 18% of 1997-8.

Action needed

Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "We would like to see all women receive full midwifery support throughout labour as there is good evidence that this reduces both Caesarean and other intervention rates.

"This is a crucial part in developing a hospital culture in which birth is seen as a normal - rather than medicalised - process."

She added: "The UK now has an unacceptably high Caesarean rate, with statistics rising in one generation from one in 20 births to one in five."

The NCT called for urgent action to reduce Caesareans to World Health Organization recommended levels of 10-15% of births.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is considering new guidelines on Caesareans.

A Department of Health spokesman told the Guardian: "The NHS aims to recruit 2,000 midwives over the next four years.

"Technical advances over the last 20 years have enabled obstetricians to identify complications to identify complications earlier, making interventions more appropriate.

"Procedures are now safer than ever, which is also a factor in their increased use."