A prominent medic has rejected the idea that women who have C-section births are simply "too posh to push".
Professor Sam Coulter Smith was speaking as Ireland's rising C-section rate comes under the spotlight at a conference in Dublin today.
There has been a four-fold jump in the number of procedures since the early 1980's.
Professor Coulter Smith, who is a former master of Dublin's Rotunda Hospital, says there are a range of factors behind the trend, and the "too posh" argument does not stand up.
Prof. Smith said: "I think that's a dreadful thing to say about women, I wouldn't be associated with that remark in any way.
"It's not a good road to go down, I think women are far too sensible and pragmatic to think in that way."