I have mixed feelings about this.
When I was expecting my second baby I begged for a C section -but they would not let me have one..
The reason was that with my first I was in labour for 26 hours after spending 13 weeks in hospital with pre- eclampsia. The birth was so traumatic and I suffered like Nil but aswell had to be restitched up again. I could not sit for weeks.
I left it 9 years till my second baby as I was so traumatised but when I went into labour I had a vaginal delivery and did not have a stitch!! I recovered very quickly.
So if I had had my wish for a c-section granted, would I have experienced an unnecessary painful and expensive procedure.
My daughter has a scoliosis of her spine and suffers from high BP - and has been told that when she has a baby she will have to have a c section whatever - she told me that she would rather have a natural birth.
It's not surprising that the midwife was able to step in and guide the doctor. Midwives specialise in births, whilst doctors cn become qualified after doing the theory and assisting in x number of births. ie: under the superviosion of the midwife. ( currently in the UK)
As well as the serious nature of any c section ( as mentioned by Odile - having your stomach cut open and abdoinal muscles pulled apart is never a minor procedure) I am horrified to think that surgeons and aneasthetists valuable time will be taken up with elective, unneeded C sections, when both time and resources can be better utilised in more essential operations.
It's not quite as simple as electing to have a ceasarian, the only guidance has been from NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) whereby they say the NHS is happy to fund elective ceasarians. The Doctor responsible for the patient can still refuse the request.