Memişoğlu links kidney diseases to cesarean births: 'A risk for mother and baby health'

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu stated, "Cesarean sections performed without medical necessity have become a risk to the health of mothers and babies. A baby's kidney cells fully develop in the final 4-5 weeks. When you deliver early, the cells do not develop. Turkey is among the countries with the highest number of kidney patients. This could be one of the reasons."

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu made these remarks to the pro-government newspaper Sabah.

Memişoğlu once again addressed the debate surrounding cesarean births, which has drawn significant public reaction.

"CESAREAN MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS FOR KIDNEY DISEASES"

Stating that Turkey is among the countries with the highest number of kidney patients, Memişoğlu suggested that cesarean births could be a cause for this.

Memişoğlu's statements are as follows:

"The cesarean rate in our country is 61 percent, and in private hospitals, this rate can rise to 78 percent. Cesarean section has become a risk for mother and baby health. Resorting to this method only in cases of medical necessity is very valuable for both the mother and the baby. A baby's kidney cells fully develop in the final 4-5 weeks. When you deliver early, the cells do not develop. Turkey is among the countries with the highest number of kidney patients. This could be one of the reasons."

"THEY ARE USING WOMEN'S ANXIETIES AGAINST US"

"We are not interfering with anyone's method of birth. They are exploiting women's anxieties and using them against us," said Minister Memişoğlu, adding, "Birth has turned into packages reduced to symbolic dates; it has come down to 'come on this date, let it be 5-5-25.' It is not enough for us to say 'have a normal birth, cesarean is not suitable for health.' You need to prepare the mother psychologically for birth. That is why we are bringing midwives to the forefront. We will pair the expectant mother with a midwife in the last 3 months of pregnancy. The midwife will follow the baby and the mother for 1 year."