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Background: international estimates suggest that caesarean section on maternal request range from 4% to 18% of all caesarean section. An increasing number of surveys have investigated women's reasons for a caesarean section in the absence of a medical indication but few studies have solely studied first-time mothers motivation for this request. Objective: to describe the underlying reasons for the desire for a caesarean section in the absence of medical indication in pregnant first-time mothers. Method: a qualitative descriptive study, with content analysis of interviews with 12 first-time mothers. Findings: the overarching theme formulated to illustrate the central interpreted meaning of the underlying desire for a planned caesarean section was based on deeply rooted emotions'. Four categories were identified as related to the request for a caesarean section on maternal request. The categories was identified as 'always knowing that there are no other options than a caesarean section', 'caesarean section as a more controlled and safe way of having a baby', own negative experiences of health care and having problems dealing with other people's reaction about their mode of delivery. Conclusion: the results show that for these first-time mothers deeply rooted emotions described as stronger than fear of birth were behind their wish for a planned caesarean section. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.