By Arunima Rajan

Until a few years ago, childbirth in India was a quiet affair, tucked away in sterile labour rooms, with families left waiting outside, anxious and unsure. That image is slowly giving way to something more open, more thoughtful. Today, hospitals are offering a range of services, from private birthing suites to postpartum recovery plans and lactation support, all aimed at making the journey into motherhood a little less overwhelming.

In a conversation with Arunima Rajan, Dr. Shashikant Pawar, chief operating officer at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, shares how maternity care is evolving to become more inclusive, personal and respectful of what women really need during one of life’s most defining moments.

What type of support does your hospital provide during the critical fourth trimester, those first six weeks after delivery?

Our organization regards the fourth trimester as an equally considered duration for the mother and the baby. We provide comprehensive post-natal care through scheduled follow-ups, breastfeeding support, nutrition, and emotional health counselling. Our Nurses form Centre of Excellence Mother & Child classifies and supervises every mother’s case management to ensure appropriate and tailored follow-up care during the initial six weeks. Our obstetricians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, and counsellors provide the new mothers support attending to the mother’s physical recovery, infant care concerns, and emotional wellbeing in a nurturing environment. Other comprehensive support includes Mother Craft, Lactation, Mental Health, and Paediatric Child Vaccination Education for thorough caregiving to the mother and child.

Could you share more about the holistic elements included in your maternity care package, like nutrition, physiotherapy, lactation counselling and mental health support?

We strive to assist a woman in all stages such as pre-conception, pregnancy, and after pregnancy. Thus, our maternity care package includes nutrition consultations, physiotherapy for pre and postnatal conditioned, lactation counselling, and mental health services from registered providers. Moreover, we include yoga, breathing exercises, and childbirth classes. New mothers and their babies are supported physically, emotionally, and mentally. Mothers are equipped for a seamless transition to motherhood. For a complete maternity experience, the package additionally includes Mother Craft education, Specialized Lactation Consultation, Mental Health counselling, and Paediatric Child Vaccination Education.

How do you ensure these women-centric services remain affordable and accessible to families from different income groups?

As a segment of our purposeful practice, we have developed exclusive maternity packages tailored to varying financial capabilities. Bundled offerings, maternity services, and supportive insurance arrangements reduce costs even further. To lift the financial strain of maternity care from lower socioeconomic women, we offer dignified maternity care through our outreach clinics and complimentary health camps.

Can you describe how your birthing suites are designed to enhance comfort, safety and partner involvement during delivery?

Each of our suites combines a unique clinical aspect along with homely comfort. Along with a homely feel, safety is a concern; thus, the suites are equipped with advanced monitoring systems, ergonomic labour beds, and emergency response protocols. To promote relaxation, warmth and spaciousness along with sunlit windows are available. Support from hospital staff and family members can be present during the course of delivery fostering a family friendly atmosphere. While medical readiness is ensured, all birth suites also allow a Birth Companion and promote a calm, warm environment which relaxes the mother. All suites are equipped with delivery sunlit windows which go along with NABH Accreditation and prescribed protocols with pathways of maternal care.

What kind of mental health screening and support is available for mothers who might face postpartum depression or anxiety?

There is a dedicated mental health screening for all cases in both the antenatal and postnatal visits. Psychological evaluations are performed within the facility. One-on-one counselling is offered in addition to group counselling. Educational materials are provided to the families to assist in the recognition and reduction of stigma associated with mental health. In the most serious cases, psychiatric referrals are provided. Mental health is fully embedded within the standard maternity care so that no woman has to battle and suffer in silence. Some of the issues tackled include mental health matters such as postpartum and maternal, stress, anxiety, emotional dysregulation and the mothers are supported through mental health staff within the facility.

How do you maintain adequate staffing and continuous training, especially in midwifery, lactation and neonatal care?

Optimal staffing integrates a well-planned rota that includes skilled obstetric nurses, lactation and neonatal specialists. Routine development trainings & programs on neonatal ventilation, and lactation management etc… ensure continuous professional development. Global best practices are implemented through workshops, simulation drills, and peer learning programs. Supporting workforce wellbeing and investing in sustained training enables consistent and compassionate care. Every stage of the maternal journey is well attended to and cared for. We are a super speciality hospital, and for this reason, we have trained staff such as BSc and GNM nurses, as well as specialists with training in high-risk obstetrics to ensure excellent clinical outcomes.

What kind of community outreach programs or antenatal workshops does your hospital conduct to educate expectant mothers and involve their families in the care journey?

We arrange deep blended antenatal and postnatal workshops on labour and delivery Baby Shower exhibited, breastfeeding, mental self-care, and newborn nurturing. These workshops cater to pregnant women and their relatives, therefore, family engagement is encouraged. Alongside local health workers, community outreach initiatives also provide complimentary health and nutrition assessment classes, as well as family counselling sessions. These initiatives are vital for fostering awareness and confidence, as well as providing care beyond the confines of the hospital to the underserved populations. These mothers and their families are also taught sessions on care during pregnancy, treatment, and care throughout the maternity period for self and health management.

What metrics do you use to evaluate your maternity care services, such as C-section rates, breastfeeding initiation or postpartum depression screening?

We monitor caesarean delivery rates, breastfeeding within the first hour, postpartum depression screening, maternal readmissions, and overall patient satisfaction. These metrics are evaluated every month and are foundational for continuous quality improvement processes. With the strategies we have put in place to serve our mothers, we ensure that the outcomes are prompt, impactful and largely governed by the decisions and actions of the mothers. Further, we compute maternal mortality rates, ensure adherence to the defined care pathways, the provided guidelines by WHO are abided by, and the Safe Childbirth Checklist is systematically applied.

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Labour, Redesigned: Inside the Quiet Shift in How Indian Hospitals Handle Birth