Caesarean section on maternal request

OBJECTIVE: In last years there is an increase rate of elective Cesarean section. In our country 4% of women choose C-section nevertheless a medical negative counseling on maternal and fetal risk. We hypothesize delivery as a risk situation, according to the Beck’s theory, and we analyze the resources in women who choose to afford or not, a spontaneous delivery. METHODS: We enrolled 38 healthy subject attending the term consultation at the Buzzi Children’s Hospital and we divided them in 2 groups after the counseling: A) 11 women who chose elective Cesarean section (CS) B) 27 women who chose spontaneous delivery (controls). RESULTS: The population did not differ for mean age and parity (nulliparous in majority of cases). The main and statically significant differences between the two group were 1) reasons for parenthood : in CS was justified by age (54%), in controls represented an accomplishment of a couple (47%); 2) the imaginary delivery crucial time : for CS was the fetus expulsion and for controls was holding the baby; 3) the delivery representation: “terrible” for CS, “the best experience in life” for controls; 4) experiences of pleasant feelings: sex for CS and none for controls; 5)the need for control : for CS is mediated by brain and by hearth for controls. CONCLUSIONS: During pregnancy CS group refuse to experience the pregnant body. CS group’s choice may result from the absence of any bodily emotions and pregnancy related feelings, so that avoidance it’s the only way to afford the delivery risk