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  • Title: Why do women request caesarean section in a normal, healthy first pregnancy?
    Author: Fenwick J, Staff L, Gamble J, Creedy DK, Bayes S.
    Journal: Midwifery; 2010 Aug; 26(4):394-400. PubMed ID: 19117644.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: a growing number of childbearing women are reported to prefer a caesarean section in the absence of a medical reason. Qualitative research describing factors influencing this preference in pregnant women is lacking. OBJECTIVE: to describe Australian women's request for caesarean section in the absence of medical indicators in their first pregnancy. DESIGN: advertisements were placed in local newspapers inviting women to participate in a telephone interview exploring women's experience of caesarean section. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. SETTING: two states of Australia: Queensland and Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS: a community sample of women (n=210) responded to the advertisements. This paper presents the findings elicited from interviews conducted with 14 women who requested a caesarean section during their first pregnancy in the absence of a known medical indication. FINDINGS: childbirth fear, issues of control and safety, and a devaluing of the female body and birth process were the main themes underpinning women's requests for a non-medically-indicated caesarean section. Women perceived that medical discourses supported and reinforced their decision as a 'safe' and 'responsible' choice. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE: these findings assist women and health professionals to better understand how childbirth can be constructed as a fearful event. In light of the evidence about the risks associated with surgical birth, health-care professionals need to explore these perceptions with women and develop strategies to promote women's confidence and competence in their ability to give birth naturally.
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