Towards Natural Delivery: A week with Dr Rick Porter and Professor Lesley Page

Last week I got the opportunity to spend some time with Dr Porter and Professor Page. Dr Rick Porter is a renowned obstetrician in London and Professor Page is the President of the Royal College of Midwives in UK. They both were here to share their rich experience with us at #SitaramBhartia hospital.

Discussion focused on some unique clinical cases, some suspicious CTGs. Obstetricians often have to take difficult decisions eg. in preterm babies. We got an insights on how they approach such situations, how they communicate, how an open door policy exists in keeping parents involved during the pregnancy while keeping in mind the medico-legal aspects.

Our pregnant mothers too had an interactive session with Professor Page. She along with our team of physiotherapists and educators guided the expecting parents on different postures, massages and exercises during labour, that substantially help reduce labor pains. Pregnant mothers emerged from the workshop confident and fearless, a very encouraging sight.

Two things impressed me the most in the last few days.

First was the desire to motivate women to birth naturally both in the obstetricians and the midwives. Dr Porter himself spends up to 40-45 min in counseling women about the need to have natural labor, while the whole obstetrics team work towards reducing caesarians.

Second is the scope of improvement through statistical studies given the huge numbers we have here in India. That requires regular discussions and correlation of the clinical scenario and the results. Also this requires the alignment of the organization's goals.

This visit will definitely guide us to hold on to the low caesarian section rates.