Looking at a DoH document on stats, I found this:
"From a level of under 3% in the 1950s, the proportion of deliveries that were by cs rose to 9% by 1980 and 12% by 1990. During the 90s the rate has increased more rapidly, reaching 21% by 2000."
In the same doc they explain that 20% of inductions lead to CS.... now they do not differenciate primip (1st vaginal birth) and multip (had baby before).... my experience (and maybe Mears does not see it like that)... it is 1st time mums whose induction go wrong which have a higher incidence of a CS.... so if you are induced for a 1st baby I reckon your chances are higher than 20% to end up in cs and lower than 20% if it isn't your 1st baby.... sadly they do not have such stats. This is my opinion and not backd up by facts but by what I see with my clients.
Generally I am all for freedom of choice - there is no point in "forcing" someone with Aloha's view to have a vaginal birth becasue she is extremly unlikely to have a good experience of it for many reasons (and this isn't meant as a criticsm of Aloha at all- she knows how I feel about her situation!).... what I am really vocal about is women getting crap care in labour, including bad inductions which can only lead to managed births and CS.... and therefore increase elective sections the next time as the mother is traumautised !
For me the reason sections are getting more frequent is fundamentally bad care in labour because hospitals are understaffed ! There are more inductions and more managed biths generally.... this leads to either a cs or a woman who WILL NOT try for a vaginal birth again (some won't even contemplate getting pregnant)..... what an AWFUL state of afffairs this is.... we can all recount the birth of our kids with great details so can our mums and grandmothers.... this is because it is an extremly important event in a woman's life.... so to ruin ikt by bad care is (IMHO) unforgivable ! (rant over )
To be honest I often get angry when a woman tells me "my husband doesn't want me to have a doula because he feels he can support me" I get angry because it is NOT his body and it is NOT him who will have to go through it (the pain, ....) and the nightmares if it is particularely traumatic.... I feel the same with anyone forcing a woman to have a vaginal birth if she isn't willing, prepared , ready....
And equally I feel that women who want a vaginal birth (for breech, multiple births or a VBAC) should be correctly supported and not brandished "mad".... every case has its merit.... some are riskier than others and it is important to speak to the professionals about any particular case - though in my own trust I know 2 OB who totally differ on VBAC in water! And they are in the same trust, they are both consultants and same generation.... so you would have one pro and one against !