Choose an option to find out more about each birth type.
Birth Options provides balanced information about vaginal and caesarean birth and induction of labour.
This website is created by a team based at the University of Liverpool to empower pregnant women and birthing parents to make an informed choice about their birth.
1 in 3 (31 in 100) first births are by emergency caesarean. Whilst often necessary, this can be distressing for parents and can cause birth trauma.
We believe that providing information about vaginal births, caesarean sections, and inductions without judgement or agenda will support women and birthing people in preparing for birth and making the decisions right for them.
Got questions? Contact us via options@liverpool.ac.uk
What is a core information set?
Birth Options' core information sets provide a minimum set of information that women, birthing people, parents, midwives and doctors believe is needed for informed decision making.
Core information sets provide a starting point for discussions between you and your midwife or doctor.
This core information set uses evidence from national guidelines, national statistics and research studies. It also includes more general information that explains current care practices where other information is not available. It has the best available information at the time that it was made (2025).
