Over 1,540 women gave birth by cesarean section in the first half of this year, while the total number of births is around 3,660. According to the director of the Gynecology Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), Zef Ndrejaj, cesarean section birth, performed without medical necessity can pose serious health risks for mothers, including organ damage, hemorrhaging, infections, chronic pain, and even infertility.

Ndrejaj, in an interview for KosovaPress, emphasized that natural birth should always be the first option when medical conditions allow it.

He mentioned that cesarean section births are an increasing trend

“In the first six months of this year, the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic recorded a total of 3,658 births. Out of those, about 1,541 were performed via cesarean section. That’s a fairly high percentage of births by C-section… The number of cesarean section births is slightly lower than normal births. However, the growth trend is always increasing", said Ndrejaj.

Gynecologist Zef Ndrejaj says that the high number of cesarean section births is partly due to the lack of finalized clinical protocols, which are still being developed.

He emphasizes that the Gynecology Clinic at UCCK treats complex cases from regions where C-sections are often necessary.

"There are many reasons. First, the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at UCCK is a referral center. The most serious cases come from the regions and they give birth here. Most of them, when they come from the regions, are in serious condition, requiring quick and safe deliver, which often means a cesarean section… Another reason is the absence of finalized clinical protocols. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with our clinic’s professionals, is working on developing protocols that guide the delivery process, especially when there are medical indications for C-section, based on medical protocols… There are also several other factors, for example the spouses' insistence that the birth be performed via C-section", said Ndrejaj.

Ndrejaj points out that cesarean section, when performed without a strong medical reason, can lead to serious complications including internal bleeding, infections, and injuries to internal organs.

As he says, long-term complications such as infertility and chronic pain may also result.

"Cesarean section births have many obstacles or damages if cesarean section births are performed without any strong reason. Starting from surgical intervention, which brings risks of complications like bleeding. There is also the possibility of damaging internal organs during the procedure. Another complication can be infections, either abdominal or intra-abdominal, or even the formation of hematomas… Then we have the late complications of cesarean section, where it often happens that in future pregnancies there is infertility, the inability to get pregnant… Other issues may arise if a pregnancy occurs and the fertilized egg implants in the area of the uterine scar — the site of the previous incision. If implantation happens there, it is very likely that the pregnancy will be problematic or will need to be terminated… We can also mention chronic pain after childbirth, after cesarean section which can persist for many years", said the gynecologist.

According to the director of Gynecology, Zef Ndrejaj, although cesarean section can sometimes be safer for the baby during delivery, they are not risk-free.

He said newborns can suffer unintentional injuries during cesarean delivery, including to the arms, legs, or head.

For this reason, Ndrejaj says that they try to encourage mothers to give birth naturally, when possible.

"We try in every way to convince (mothers) to deliver naturally rather than via C-section, precisely because of the possible complications that occur after cesarean births. Can a cesarean birth negatively affect the baby? While the baby may be slightly safer during extraction in a C-section, there are still risks of accidental injuries. A hand, limb, or foot can be injured. A head injury can be caused, of course unintentionally", said Ndrejaj.

Gynecologist Zef Ndrejaj emphasizes that it is very important for women to cooperate closely with professionals and midwives, so that childbirth can occur naturally whenever possible.

“The more cooperation there is between the woman and her doctor or midwife, the better the chance of choosing and achieving a natural birth avoiding potential complications. Whenever natural delivery is possible, it should be tried first, not cesarean section. Women should trust the advice of their doctors and medical professionals, and agree with the birth method they recommend”, said Ndrejaj.

A cesarean section is a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus, rather than being born through the vaginal canal (the natural way). /Z. Zeneli/