The labour of love

"Pitha rakshiti koumare
Bartho rakshiti youvane
Putro rakshiti vaardakye", says Manu.
Yes, there is a need for a woman to be cared for in all phases of her life _ especially when in labour.
And it's to cater to her physical, emotional and mental needs that Coimbatore Women’s Centre has added new features that cater to the needs of mothers-to-be _ especially the 'birthing suite'.
"The childbirth is a sweet memory that a mother should always cherish. It should not be turned into a thing that she should fight to forget. It is to be carried through out the life as now-a-days motherhood comes only once or twice in a lifetime for most of the women," says Dr. Mirudhubashini Govindarajan, clinical director of Women’s Centre.
"We try to take up women issues in a manner that is less addressed by other hospitals or organisations. We focus mainly on the comfort zone. that should be provided for a woman to have a pleasant delivery," she explains.
Childbirth being the most special occasion for the women, the mother-to-be should be taken care of and provided with all comforts around. It's to serve this purpose that the centre has added ‘birthing suite’ concept among its features.
"Birthing suite is more than a hotel room with all the facilities around. Rather than the physical amenities, the suite helps in backing the expecting mother with needed emotional support. The husband's access to the room at the time of delivery is also made possible. All the equipment needed for the delivery will be there in the suite hided so that it do not create an ambience of hospital. Usually, all the deliveries except the high risk cases will be held in the suite itself," said Jayaram Govindarajan, the administrator of the centre.
The most special feature of the birthing suite is the ‘birthing bed’, which gives a comfortable birthing position for the mother-to-be and also the staff attending her. The main characteristics of the birthing bed includes its excellent design for the usage of it through out all the birthing phases, its low entrance height, stable construction, inclining of segments according to comfort ability and easy control of handles.
Stepping into 25th year of service, Women's Centre, located at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, is a comprehensive women health care setup providing most complete solutions for all the health problems of women, from her puberty to menopause. It is unique in Coimbatore and the first of its kind to receive an ISO 9001:2000 award for its quality in service.
A well-catered team of 14 highly qualified full-time consultants, several visiting consultants, para-medical staff and a handful of other nursing staff enable Women’s Centre to be more passionate and responsible for the services. The consultants include professionals in infertility management, embryology, clinical obstetrics and gynaecology, andrology, laparoscopic (key hole), endoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeons, gynec-oncology, ultrasonology, adolescent care, pregnancy, newborn care and neonatology.
"We are an independent entity without much tie ups, for we concentrate more on quality, than spreading out the banner name. The key element of this type of organisation is the specialised consultants at the reach of our hands. It is not that to invite a visiting professional at their schedule, but it is to provide the medicare at the time, when the patient is in need of it," said Jayaram on the reason for not having more branches.
Women’s Centre, with a hand full of specialised doctors, round the clock are capable of giving individual attention to the patients. The infertility department, which needs more care while handling with eggs and sperms, outside the human body, to make sure that the couple bears their own child, it is important to have an individual attention.
The Centre is having an infertility laboratory with a completely sterile environment, which enables them to be more precise in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment.
"IVF is the last thing to choose for a childless couple. We are having many other phases of treating infertility, even without any surgery. IVF being the more critical phase is dealt with more precise. Highly qualified medical and technical personnel with years of hands on experiences add to the IVF facilities in the hospital," said Dr Lakshmi, specialised in treating infertility. Also three embryologists are there to offer their services round the clock.
Spreading more than 15,000 new smiles to the world, the centre has given many childless couples a reason for living.
"I was childless for 17 years. I tried out many medicines, but of no use. Then I came to know about Women’s Centre from some of my villagers. I was suggested to do IVF. Now I am three months carrying, thanks to the doctors here," says Janaki (name changed) of Erode.
Another childless couple, settled in Australia, came to Women’s Centre knowing about it from the successful story of their relative. Sairadha, childless for five years is now a mother-to-be with a four-month child giggling in her womb.
Apart from the health care services, the centre also stretches its hands to educational aspects. Classes are been conducted for the expecting and her relatives on various issues like the breast-feeding, obesity, a pre-note on the delivery pain, meditation etc. The shortage of well-trained personnel has made the centre to have a tie up with Bharatiar University to start a new course in Maternal and Child health for plus-two students. It also offers a Fellow of National Board (FNB), with students from various parts of the country enrolled after an all-India entrance test.
"The best feature of the centre is the emotional support they are providing. They understand us fully and only after that the doctors even start treatment. The way of approach helps to build confidence in patience," said Biji Alexander, who is preparing to be a mother after the IVF.
"Instead of bits and pieces here and there, we give a package for childbirth, starting from treatment till having a baby, at ultimate rate of affordability along with quality. In all means, Women’s Centre spreads an ambience of a second home for the mother-to-be," says Dr. Mirudhubashini with a confident smile.

Published in Expresso (The New Indian Express) on 25/07/2008