Kirstie Allsopp blasts natural birth experts on Twitter
Tweeting: Kirsty Allsopp criticised the NCT for being 'reckless' in not providing enough information about caesarians in their antenatal classesKirstie Allsopp has launched a scathing attack on natural childbirth experts, accusing them of stigmatising women who have Caesareans.
The TV presenter whose two sons were delivered by C-section claimed that she and thousands of other mothers were being made to feel a failure.
She criticised the National Childbirth Trust for being reckless in not providing enough information about the procedure in their antenatal classes, which are attended by 100,000 couples every year.
Miss Allsopp said that while pregnant she had even advised by some natural birth advocates to ignore doctors advice and try to give birth without medical intervention.
Figures show that more than a quarter of all babies born are now delivered via Caesarean, up from just nine per cent 30 years ago.
The rates are far higher in more affluent parts of the country including parts of London and the South-East which natural birth advocates claim supports the notion that some women are now too posh to push'.
Miss Allsopp, 39, who lives with her partner said: I suspect giving birth naturally is one of the most life-enhancing experiences you can have if it goes well.
'That's the dream, but for a quarter of women it is not the reality, and we need to make sure they don't feel like a failure.
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Kirstie Allsopp clashes with NCT CEO Belinda Phipps. It is the not the first time the TV presenter has argued on Twitter'They seem to be saying if they had been in our position they would have managed somehow, despite all the medical advice, to give birth naturally,' she said.
'There are very few organisations that get away with suggesting you should ignore medical advice, but the NCT does.'
Miss Allsopp used the Twitter social networking website to vent her anger after the issue arose whilst filming the Channel 4s Location, Location, Location in Darlington.
One of the househunters had told Mrs Allsopp she had received minimal information about C-sections in her NCT class, and had felt a failure after undergoing the operation two months ago.
Miss Allsopp then asked her 95,000 Twitter followers: 'Anyone been on an NCT course recently? Was there any info/discussion on what happens in the event of you needing a C-section?'
C-section baby: Last year it emerged that many women were demanding caesarean sections for their second baby because the first birth had been so traumaticHundreds responded, many of them agreeing that they had been given minimal information. One new mother had apparently been banned from the class held after the birth because she had needed a Caesarean.
Her husband wrote: 'After C-section my wife and I were the only couple not invited back to NCT group to tell expecting couples about it.'
In response, the chief executive of the NCT Brenda Phipps posted her own message on Twitter insisting that many couples prefer to focus on a natural birth and it was difficult 'fitting everything in' to the short classes.
At this point the presenter retorted accusing Miss Phipps of being 'reckless'.
She went on: 'I'm a confident woman and know I took the best ad! vice.
'But it makes me want to cry that some women don't have the information they need at such an important time. It has to stop.'
Last year it emerged that many women were demanding caesarean sections for their second baby because the first birth had been so traumatic.
In a statement the NCT said: NCT teachers do their best to prepare parents for their birth and the early days of parenthood.
'Although we get overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents we do not always get it right. Parents who are unhappy are strongly encouraged to contact us so we can make amends and learn the necessary lessons.
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