GMCH takes the lead in respectful maternity care

  • | Friday | 14th December, 2018

“At the time of registering the pregnant woman at the antenatal OPD, we ask if her mother, sister, sister-in-law or friend can volunteer as a birthing companion. NGO M-mitra is assisting GMCH in carrying out this exercise,” said Gadappa.Women are also allowed to choose the birthing position in which they feel comfortable. “I was given a choice of birthing position. As per records from June to November, squatting position was most favoured by patients with around 1,335 deliveries while 295 women delivered in reclining position. Despite having weight issues, they encouraged me to go for normal delivery instead of caesarean,” said Shraddha.Dean Kanan Yelikar said, “The programe is the need of the hour.

Aurangabad: The obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGY) department of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has emerged as a national model for the successful implementation of respectful maternity care through its various services and infrastructural modifications.Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) introduced by the White Ribbon Alliance and supported by United Nations Population Fund is in line with the Government of India’s Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative (LaQshya).Head of GMCH’s OBGY department Shrinivas Gadappa that as part of the programme, measures like counselling the pregnant women, explaining them the process of labour and associated complications, offering birthing companions, providing adequate space and privacy, offering multiple birthing positions and encouraging breastfeeding are taken.Around one-and-a-half years after the introduction of the programme at the hospital, positive changes in the number of caesarean deliveries, use of oxytocin and other drugs, number of admissions to neonatal intensive care unit, duration of labour and maternal satisfaction have been recorded through comparative data gathered over last three years.Training and allowing expecting mother’s female kin or friend as birthing companion has significantly improved the experience of maternity care. “At the time of registering the pregnant woman at the antenatal OPD, we ask if her mother, sister, sister-in-law or friend can volunteer as a birthing companion. The companion should have an experience of her own delivery, should be free from any communicable disease and be willing to stay with the patient from labour until after the delivery. Once consent is received, the companion is trained with counselling and IEC material. NGO M-mitra is assisting GMCH in carrying out this exercise,” said Gadappa.Women are also allowed to choose the birthing position in which they feel comfortable. As per records from June to November, squatting position was most favoured by patients with around 1,335 deliveries while 295 women delivered in reclining position. As many as 429 women delivered in positions like semi-sitting, standing and kneeling. However, there were still many takers for lying down position (2,557 deliveries).Shradhha Kuchalkunte (28), who had her second delivery at GMCH in October, said that earlier, the patient’s kin were not allowed in the labour room but this time, her maternal aunt was by her side when she was in labour. “I was given a choice of birthing position. Despite having weight issues, they encouraged me to go for normal delivery instead of caesarean,” said Shraddha.Dean Kanan Yelikar said, “The programe is the need of the hour. It has led to reduction in caesarean operation and morbidity.”

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles