Serbian women report routine invasive procedures and abuse in maternity wards

Mothers across Serbia say they routinely endure demeaning treatment and outdated medical interventions during hospital births.

Over several months, reporters gathered testimonies from over twenty Serbian mothers who described a uniform experience of humiliating care and antiquated obstetric practices in maternity clinics. Upon admission, patients are often subjected to shaving, enemas and prophylactic oxytocin regardless of medical need, followed by controversial interventions like manual fundal pressure and routine episiotomies—sometimes performed without anesthesia or consent.

Several women recounted painful vacuum extractions, bruising, and verbal harassment, including derogatory remarks and threats. Health specialists attribute the situation to a strained system that treats births like an assembly line and to lingering outdated beliefs, while psychologists warn of gender-based stereotypes such as the “husband stitch.” The Serbian Health Ministry has issued a new guideline promoting physiological vaginal birth, yet critics note a lack of monitoring and ongoing legal battles over obstetric violence. Consequently, many women leave the hospital bearing physical injuries and lasting trauma.