'We Hope To See More Birth Centres With The Collaborative Model Of Care Come Up In India'

Dr Vijaya Krishnan, Founder, The Sanctum, Natural Birth Centre speaks in detail about the need for midwife-led maternity care, advantages of natural birth, Sanctum's collaborative model of care and more, in an exclusive interaction with Lakshmipriya Nair

- Lakshmipriya Nair

You are promoting the concept of midwife-led maternity care. What all does it entail?

Midwife means 'with women'. Since thousands of years midwives were the 'wise women' who helped other women in their times of pregnancy, childbirth and post delivery stage. We even see ancient Egyptian, Indus Valley and Mayan sculptures of women being assisted in childbirth by midwives. Midwives are specialists in normal birth. Skilled midwives are specialists in the 'physiology of labour and Birth', and look at pregnancy and birth as a normal physiological process, in contrast to conventional hospitals and medical system which looks at pregnancy and birth as a medical event, and is tuned to provide 'treatment' for any 'risk' that may occur. Midwives not only provide physical care to expecting mothers, they also offer emotional support, being at their side, 24 hours during labour, encouraging the mother, making her feel confident and supported. Midwives are also skilled at anticipating when things are likely to go wrong, and to call for specialist medical care in case of emergencies. Therefore, midwives are often skilled caregivers, trusted friend, advisors, source of support to mothers, so much that they create lifelong relationships with the women they help give birth.

What drew you to this concept? How did Sanctum come into being?