Congratulations! You've just found out that you are expecting and are going to break the happy news to your family and friends. But once that initial euphoria and happy hugs all around are dealt with, you've got some serious thinking to do. First, you need to ask yourself some questions: Where should I give birth? Is it safer to deliver my baby at home or

Words: Poornima Nair

Doc talk
If you are expecting your first child, the first thing you need to do is identify the obstetrician-gynaecologist to consult. Look for a qualified and sensitive doctor who makes you feel comfortable and reassured. A family doctor can refer you to well known ob-gyns for quality treatment. Family and friends can also help to dig up some information on doctors in and around your locality. The ob-gyn you choose can help you establish a healthy, stress free routine by setting a few guidelines which include monthly visits to make sure you are healthy and relaxed.

Delivering the goods
Once you have decided on the doctor, you can narrow down on which hospital to choose, depending on which ones s/he is associated with. You need one closer to your home so that you can rush there in case of any complications or discomfort.
We live in a high-tech world where, each day, new technology is introduced to make life's choices simpler. The same applies to maternity care. A pregnant woman in the city now has access to better maternity care than ever before. There are reputed hospitals all over India, providing state-of-the-art facilities to make labour and child-birth safer and more comfortable for both mother and infant. These are comparable to those in any of the advanced nations.
For a safe delivery, noted gynaecologist Dr Usha Saraiya from Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, says a hospital must have a well-equipped maternity unit which can handle any case at any given time. She says, “In case of emergencies, a 24-hour Operation Theatre and blood bank will be urgently required. Not all women in labour will require the OT, but if the need arises, then there won't be time to shift the mother to another hospital. General anaesthesia and facilities for effective pain relief in labour, an electronic foetal monitor for continuous monitoring along with an ultrasound (sonography) machine are also essential. A team of dedicated doctors and nurses, well trained in maternity care, ensure a healthy and safe delivery. Paediatric care is a must for a newborn baby, so the ward should consist of incubators and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in case it's needed.” Dr Jaideep Malhotra, who runs her own maternity and nursing home at Agra which prides itself on being father, mother and baby-friendly, further adds, "Approachability, atmosphere, facilities, doctors and nursing staff are the fundamental parameters for choosing the right hospital."
Dr Alka Kriplani, a gynaecologist from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Delhi also shares a similar opinion."Staff members should be co-operative and sympathetic to the patient and her relatives. Hygiene should be well maintained and all types of speciality and super-speciality treatment should be available."

Hospital-ity
Apart from high-tech paraphernalia, many hospitals now provide many additional services. Special rooms with a home-like ambience and a beautiful nursery for the newborn are almost de rigueur in the larger, more expensive hospitals that specialise in maternity care.
Dr Ranjana Dhanu, gynaecologist at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, known for it's state-of-the-art maternity unit, says, “Every room has a cradle, so the baby is kept close to the mother after birth. There is a special baby room, where nurses take the baby for a wash and change of clothes. If you're a mum in a higher grade room, you get to wear pleasant blue-and-white checked or blue pastel gowns and listen to soothing music to help you relax while you're dilating. And you can use the labour chair, which can be modified to different positions and allows you to decide the birthing position in which you'll be most comfortable.”
Many women suffer from post-partum depression after the delivery and some hospitals give the right kind of support to help new mothers cope with the emotional and physical changes they experience. These days, hospitals and nursing homes also provide antenatal classes, where a qualified instructor takes first-time parents through the process of labour and childbirth, helping you prepare to become a parent and have a low-risk birth. “Many women are apprehensive about labour,” says Dr Anudha Desai, physiotherapist at Breach Candy Hospital, who has been conducting antenatal classes for over 15 years.
“I explain the actual process of labour in a simplified way so it's easy for women to understand. I also encourage them to share their experiences and problems.” Even husbands are prepared towards the due date. After they register at the hospital for delivery, women are provided brochures and when they enroll for classes, they are given a tour of the maternity ward. “Antenatal classes are important, as they prepare a woman on how to handle her labour confidently and effectively, and the exercises are beneficial to those experiencing cramps, backache, stress and swelling,” says Dr Desai.