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photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

All taken care For that extra bit of pampering

But not many have the luxury of experiencing this feeling in an ambience that is a far cry from a hospital. As for expert care, it is confined to those who can afford it. But until recently, even those who could afford could not deliver in such an ambience though expert care was certainly forthcoming. Motherhood was achieved in the midst of a hospital setting, complete with its smells and scenes.

However, the recently opened Nest in Wockhardt Hospital and the now year-old Cradle of Apollo Hospitals have changed this scenario, offering a facility where mothers are not only assured of the best of care but also go through the entire process of ante-natal, delivery and post-natal care in five-star ambience.

Thus, you can choose to have your baby born in a room that has one of the seasons as its theme. Or you could check into a room that has an equally luxurious annexe for the family assisting.

Not only are your rooms more like a star hotel, the entire hospital as in the Cradle and the entire floor catering to mother and child care in the Nest has a similar setting.

Here, a complete package is offered to mothers-to-be, starting from the period of conception or at times even at the planning stage, until the baby is born. Some of these packages extend to post-natal care too and offer care up to the point where the child is a year old or more, depending on individual choice.

During pregnancy, medically approved methods like Lamaze, which is breathing techniques and exercises, and yoga to facilitate natural birth, are taught. Partners are encouraged to participate in these classes. Spouses are also given the opportunity to be present at child birth.

Post birth sees the physiotherapist, dietician and even masseurs coming on to the scene, with expert advice given on child care starting from changing diapers, bathing the new born, common illnesses among infants, to tips on lactation.

Says R. Kishore Kumar, CEO, Cradle: “Half the women suffer from incontinence and stress after childbirth but fail to talk about it. It is important to educate women not only on aspects such as nutrition but also on the role exercise plays before and after delivery. Participation by spouses both during pregnancy as well child birth is vital and we insist on that.”

Thus in Cradle, the father is invariably in the labour ward and even assists in cutting the umbilical chord. Of course, there is the risk of some of them passing out during the experience!

While care of this nature can be pampering, opting for one does call for a different mindset. While this kind of care may not be universally affordable, childbirth having long been associated with nursing homes and special home-made diets, it calls for different expectations even among those who can afford.

Prabha Ramakrishna, of Nest, Wockhardt, avers that women are now more aware of the demands of pregnancy and childbirth, the need to have expert assistance during this period. Insisting that the right ambience and expert medical care can reduce chances of post natal depression, she adds: “Care of this nature allays fears and doubts in the mother, answering the many questions that arise in her mind.”

Concurs Dr. Kishore Kumar, “Child birth is a cause for celebration and needs to be treated as such. Providing the right ambience and care is important to reiterate this.”

Says Eva Camerasa, one of the mothers who opted for Nest: “The ambience is so intimate and the attention so individual and special, I would not have opted for any other place than here for this special occasion.”

Mamtha Ramesh, another mother to have used the facility in Cradle, reflects her opinion. “A hospital atmosphere, complete with its smells, can be depressing. Here the ambience is far from a hospital and you are made to feel very special. As for care, it is excellent both for the mother and child.” She adds that the charges are still reasonable when compared to other hospitals and the care given there.

If the popularity of facilities like the Nest and Cradle is anything to go by, the future could see more hospitals coming up, given that both awareness and demand are on the upswing.

Non-hospital ambience; almost five-star hotel

Specialised care

Individual attention

Tips and training offered to new-age parents

Many medical and non-medical specialists available under one roof

Care includes from conception and before till child turns one

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