Help urged on childbirth fears

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A study from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, found that more than 40% of first-time mothers had a clinical fear of giving birth after hearing stories from family and friends who had bad experiences.

These women were least likely to be happy about the delivery and some were afraid their child would die.

Expectant mothers who opt for a Caesarean without medical justification are often dubbed "too posh to push".

The operation is linked to higher risks for the mother and baby, including increased risk of hysterectomy, death, blood clots and infant breathing problems. Almost one in four babies born in England in 2005/06 was delivered by Caesarean.

The study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, followed 496 pregnant women until three months after they gave birth.

Comparisons were made between women actively choosing a Caesarean, Caesarean due to a baby's breech position and women acting as controls who wanted a normal vaginal delivery.

The women were asked for their views before delivery and three months after birth. Mothers requesting a Caesarean section had more negative expectations of how a vaginal delivery would be and 43.4% in this group had a "clinically significant" fear of delivery.

The authors said these women - and those still wanting a Caesarean but without a clinical fear - clearly needed more support.

Meanwhile, mothers who were expecting a normal delivery but who needed an emergency Caesarean (14%) or an assisted vaginal delivery (such as with forceps - 16% of the women) had more negative experiences of childbirth.