Too afraid to push: dealing with fear of childbirth.

Maternal request for caesarean section in the absence of medical need is an ethical and moral dilemma for the NHS. When a woman makes such a request it requires careful exploration of the underlying motivation. Many of these women will be anxious or fearful of giving birth and require tailored support. The provision of an antenatal pathway that acknowledges these fears, focuses on enabling coping mechanisms and supports shared decision making can reduce the number of requests for a caesarean.