Experts Call for Shift to Water Birthing at Hyderabad Conference

A recent conference in Hyderabad focused on revolutionizing childbirth practices in India, advocating for a shift towards water birthing and hydrotherapy. The event, titled ‘Better Birthing Experience,’ took place over two days and gathered clinicians and midwifery experts who emphasized reducing reliance on intervention-heavy childbirth methods.

Participants discussed how non-pharmaceutical techniques, such as labouring in warm water and allowing women to move freely during labour, can significantly decrease fear, pain, and unnecessary medical interventions. Despite the global recognition of the benefits associated with water birthing, it remains an uncommon practice in India.

Dr. Evita Fernandez, Chairperson of the Fernandez Foundation, highlighted a striking statistic: in a country that sees nearly 25 million births each year, hydrotherapy is utilized in less than 0.01% of these cases. She attributed this low adoption rate to several factors, including a shortage of trained midwives, the overwhelming patient load in public hospitals, and insufficient infrastructure to maintain clean and safe birthing pools.

Historical Context and Current Practices

Dr. Inderjeet Kaur, Director of Midwifery at the hospital, noted that hydrotherapy is not a new concept. Rituals involving water childbirth can be traced back to regions around the Red Sea in Egypt. The first documented water birth occurred in France in 1803, while the United Kingdom began offering this option routinely in the 1970s and 1980s. The Fernandez Hospital introduced water birthing in India in 2017 and has since facilitated over 800 hydrotherapies and more than 430 water births.

Dr. Pallavi Chandra, the organising secretary of the conference, emphasized that childbirth as a natural process has not changed in millions of years. She pointed out that hospitals have increasingly reshaped birthing environments to fit clinical convenience. Over the past six to seven decades, the focus has shifted towards monitoring, speed, and efficiency, often at the expense of a woman-centered birthing experience.

The conference highlighted the need for systemic changes within the healthcare system to promote practices that prioritize the well-being of mothers and infants. By integrating water birthing techniques, experts believe that childbirth can be transformed into a more positive experience, reducing anxiety and enhancing comfort for women during this significant life event.

The discussions at the conference reflect a growing recognition of the importance of adapting childbirth practices to better meet the needs of women, ensuring that their physical and emotional health are prioritized throughout the birthing process.