This frank and thought-provoking audio documentary aims to open up discussion around Somali mothers and issues around childbirth including Caesarean section.

The presenter and interviewer, Madina Jeilani, having worked in Somalia as a teacher and a midwife, left her country due to civil war and lived in a Kenyan refugee camp before travelling to Britain in 1994. Since living in the UK, she has become involved in health care.

She explains that in Somali culture, it is a tradition for girls aged 10-12, before puberty, to have the lips of the vagina sewn together, leaving a small opening for urine and menstruation. An elder woman of the community performs this ritual. This is referred throughout the documentary as female circumcision, or Female Genital Mutilation (FMG).

The documentary proceeds to include interviews with British midwives, working in Ealing Hospital in London, discussing issues of FMG and the treatment of Somali mothers in British hospitals. The documentary focuses on the question of whether FMG necessitates childbirth by Caesarian section. The midwives generally agree that this is not the case, although some difficulties may arise as natural childbirth can be more traumatic with FMG. It is agreed that British healthcare workers are generally better trained in cultural differences now, but that information to Somali mothers could be improved.

The conclusion seems to be that the most important points are around encouraging Somali parents to come forward to discuss their childbirth options well in advance of the event, and understanding the difficulties they may face so they can be better informed about the process. This programme lasts 23 minutes and 32 seconds.