In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the ultrasound probe a randomised comparison of the traditional clinical methods of feeling the bones of the spine and ultrasound guided insertion of a combined spinal epidural anaesthetic will be undertaken. The rodiera tiped 17/18G 90mm tuohy needle and 123mm 27G spinal needle manufactured by Sarstedt will be the regional needles used for the combined spinal epidural anaesthetic. Randomisation into two groups (ultrasound guided needle insertion and feeling the bones) will be by computer generated random sequence. This information will be recorded in sealed envelopes and placed in the ward. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and who consent immediately prior to caesarean section will be sequentially assigned a number that will correspond to a sealed envelope. The main aim of the study will be to detect any difference in time taken to insert epidural catheter via the needle in the patients back. The other factors measured will be the number of times the skin is punctured and bone touched by the needle, number of conversions from regional (spinal epidural) to general anaesthesia, patient satisfaction scores, requirement for extra local anaesthetic following initial blockade during Caesarean section.