People who blindly trust doctors with child birth annoy me.

My contribution to the noisy and emotional discussion about caesarean sections. Click on the title to go to the discussion on the Sydney Morning Herald website.

I'm amazed at the number of ill informed folk posting here. I'm also amazed at the number of people taking the issue personally. Doesn't anyone teach reason and argument at schools any more?

Most of my friends did more research into the purchase of their latest car or TV than they did into the birth of their child. It beggars belief.

For heavens sake people, get educated. Take a look at the recent medicalisation of childbirth, read the HISTORY, take into account that we have been bipedal and giving birth without assistance for 300,000 odd years, acknowledge that in some cases natural processes go wrong. Take a look at the birth stats for countries such as NZ, Canada, US, UK, Netherlands etc, compare policies, methods and outcomes. Look at the stats for our country, listen to the experiences of those around you. For heaven's sake don't get your information from Maternity Ward or *insert any dramatised birth story television show*. Find out what the World Health Organization says. Learn exactly what your rights are in this country, especially when it comes to "informed consent" as that tends to go out the window in a labour ward.

After all that, if your OB recommends surgery for your healthy pregnancy you are likely to ask for a second, if not third opinion. That is if you've opted for an OB at all (checking out the stats in Australia should tell you why most people who check the stats don't have a private OB).

If, once you've done your homework, you still want to opt for unnecessary surgery, you will have my astonished, but heartfelt respect for your well informed decision.