Bangalore Birth Network

Image Source Ever heard of the adage “Good things come in small packages”? The book, The Basic Needs Of A Woman in Labour by Ruth Ehrhardt is a testament to that. At a mere 32 pages, this book leaves a deep impact on the reader with its honest and loving, yes loving!, look at the miracle that is pregnancy and labour. I’m currently in my 2nd pregnancy and I’m trying really hard to have a natural, intervention-free delivery that I was not able to experience the first time around. As a first time mom-to-be I let myself be talked out of something I really wanted, out of fear and the lack of empowering information. So this time around, I’ve been determined to do everything I could to fix things. That’s when I saw this book mentioned as a must-read for expecting moms on an online forum, and I was lucky to find myself a free Kindle copy from Amazon India during their sale. I read the book in flat 15 minutes. And though I have read reams and reams of words on ...

Image Source A woman is at her most vulnerable yet incredibly powerful space during the moments that her baby is born. A doula by her side at this time helps her in this passage without being judgemental and offering her unconditional support - helping her focus on the process, filtering out distractions and encouraging her throughout. She is a sister, a friend, a guide, an aunt, a mother figure who has gone down that path herself and/or has supported other women at this important juncture. She supports the mom and her partner with compassion and helps them make informed decisions while respecting their choices. A doula is someone who keeps in mind the mother and child’s best interest, and is on the same page as the couple, aware of their wishes and without any personal agenda.    By getting to know the parents-to-be in depth during prenatal meetings, she builds trust and connection. She educates them about the various birthing options and ways to facili...

Image Source Skin-to-skin is the practice of holding a newborn baby close to the mother or the father, where both, the caregiver and the baby, are bare chested and usually a thin cloth is used to cover them. While this practice is often seen while caring for preterm babies in the initial phase of their life outside the womb, it is also very beneficial while caring for full term, healthy babies.This practice, though age old in many cultures, is becoming popular amongst caregivers in the recent years because of its many benefits to both, the baby and the parents, especially mothers. Babies cannot control their body temperatures soon after birth. Holding them close to one’s body helps regulate their temperatures as well as their heartbeat. It is believed that the mother’s heartbeat and breathing patterns are familiar to the baby and this helps the baby transition from the atmosphere and security of the womb to the outside world with the least amount of stress and thereby red...

    Image Source My GDM (Gestational DiabetesMellitus) experience started when I was 16 weeks pregnant. Since I had some obvious characteristics for a GDM suspect - overweight, age 30+ and diabetes in the family, my doctor advised to get a GCT (Glucose Challenge Test) done anytime between 16 to 18 weeks. I had this lingering regret that I wanted to shed a few kilos and become healthier before I conceived but life always has plans for you rather than the other way around! Diagnosis As anticipated the GCT result was disappointing. I was 3 points over the upper limit. GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) was the next test to confirm GDM and here too, the result exceeded the upper limit. I was asked to consult a General Physician who, within five minutes of our meeting, prescribed Insulin twice every day and casually told us how it was easy to administer, that we should buy it and the nurse can show how it has to be injected. There was no other precauti...