In order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the ultrasound probe a randomised comparison of the traditional clinical methods of palpation and ultrasound guided insertion of a (CSE)combined spinal/epidural anaesthetic will be undertaken. The combined spinal epidural (17/18G 90mm rodiera tiped tuohy needle and 123mm 27G spinal needle manufactured by Sarstedt will be used for all patients and all the tuohy needles will be sand and bead blasted, desterilised and repackaged prior to use. All patients will have a spinal anaesthetic 2.4mls of heavy bupivacaine and a 22G epidural catheter sited via a 16G tuohy needle with diamorphine or fentanyl. All anaesthetic procedures will be undertaken by the same experienced anaesthetist. However those patients in the ultrasound group will have the insertion of the tuohy needle guided by ultrasound and the will be compared to the current method of palpation. All patients will then undergo elective caesarean section. Patient's having an ultrasound inserted using palpation may be transferred to the ultrasound guided group after 30 minutes of attempted insertions or at the discretion of the anaesthetist treating the patient.