Lajja Gouri Campaign: Advocating for Natural Birthing Practices and Respectful Maternity Care
Childbirth is a natural process, shared across all living creatures, but has increasingly been transformed into a medicalised and profit-driven practice. The Lajja Gouri Campaign, initiated by Prof. Dr. Ashok Kale, MBBS, MD, and one of the founding members of ABGP, India’s largest consumer organization, is a commendable effort to reduce the rising rates of Caesarean sections (C-sections) and restore dignity to maternity care in India. Dr. Kale’s Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2006 before the Mumbai High Court was instrumental in addressing this issue, leading to policy changes implemented nationwide.
The campaign is named after Lajja Gouri, the ancient goddess representing fertility and childbirth, symbolising the harmony between nature and life. It calls for a re-evaluation of modern birthing practices and a return to more natural and humane methods that prioritise the well-being of mothers and babies.
Obstetric Table vs. Upright Positions: A Critical Analysis
The use of obstetric tables in hospitals, where women are required to lie flat during childbirth, is often counterproductive:
- Gravity Disadvantage: The lying position forces the body to work against gravity, prolonging labor and increasing the likelihood of interventions like C-sections.
- Restricted Movement: It stiffens the backbone, restricting the natural adjustments required during childbirth.
- Pressure on Blood Flow: This position puts undue pressure on major blood vessels, potentially reducing oxygen supply to the mother and baby.
On the other hand, upright birthing positions, such as standing or squatting, align with natural processes:
- Gravity-Assisted Delivery: Upright positions utilise gravity to aid the baby’s descent, making delivery smoother and faster.
- Freedom of Movement: The backbone remains flexible, allowing natural body movements that facilitate childbirth.
- Improved Circulation: Upright positions reduce pressure on major blood vessels, ensuring optimal blood flow to the mother and baby.
- Reduced Interventions: These positions often result in fewer complications, reducing the need for medical interventions.
Learning from Traditional Practices
Historically, childbirth was conducted in upright positions, assisted by midwives in familiar and supportive environments. Herbs, massages, and traditional wisdom ensured smooth deliveries without medical intervention. This stands in stark contrast to today’s clinical settings, which often prioritise convenience over natural processes.
Dr. Ashok Kale’s Vision
Dr. Kale’s Lajja Gouri Campaign emphasises that the lying position on obstetric tables is unnatural and counterproductive. He envisions replacing these tables with birthing chairs to restore natural birthing practices. His question—whether a PIL can prohibit the use of obstetric tables for full-term pregnant women and mandate birthing chairs—remains a thought-provoking challenge for policymakers and the medical community.
Modern Practices: Exploitation and Profit
The commercialisation of childbirth has turned a natural process into a revenue-generating industry. The high cost of C-sections, often running into lakhs of rupees, has placed a significant financial burden on families. Multiplied by the number of births, this exploitation represents a staggering volume of profit for healthcare providers.
Ignored Provisions for Maternity Care
Despite progressive policies aimed at improving maternity care, implementation remains a challenge:
- Birth Companion Policy (2016): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare allows a companion to support laboring women, but many hospitals fail to implement this provision.
- LaQshya Yojna: This initiative mandates Respectful Maternity Care, ensuring dignity and respect in labor rooms. However, adherence remains inconsistent.
Advocating for Reform: A Way Forward
Dr. Kale’s efforts highlight the urgent need for systemic change in maternity care:
- Upright Birthing Positions: A PIL to prohibit the use of obstetric tables and mandate birth chairs could revolutionise birthing practices in India.
- Awareness Campaigns: Educating families and healthcare professionals about the benefits of natural birthing positions and respectful care is essential.
- Policy Implementation: Enforcing existing provisions like the Birth Companion Policy and LaQshya Yojna will ensure better care for laboring women.
- Cost Regulation: Addressing the financial exploitation associated with C-sections is crucial for making childbirth affordable and accessible.
A Call for Dignity and Reform in Childbirth
The Lajja Gouri Campaign, led by Dr. Ashok Kale, marks a pivotal movement towards restoring the natural dignity of childbirth and advocating for more respectful maternity care. By challenging the widespread use of obstetric tables and promoting upright birthing positions, Dr. Kale calls for a fundamental shift in how childbirth is approached in India, focusing on the well-being of mothers and babies rather than medical intervention for convenience or profit. C-sections should be reserved for cases of medical necessity, not as the default procedure, ensuring childbirth remains a natural and life-affirming event.
This campaign also highlights the larger issue of exploitation within the healthcare system, where the commercialisation of childbirth has transformed it into a profit-driven industry. The financial burden placed on families, particularly due to unnecessary C-sections, is an injustice that must be addressed. It is essential for society to reclaim childbirth as a sacred process, free from exploitation and undue medicalisation.
The Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), India’s largest consumer organisation since 1974, has long been at the forefront of advocating for consumer rights and public awareness. ABGP stands in solidarity with the Lajja Gouri Campaign, working tirelessly to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of over-medicalising childbirth and to promote natural, respectful birthing practices. Through its advocacy, educational initiatives, and outreach programs, ABGP aims to eliminate the exploitation of women in maternity care, ensuring that childbirth is a dignified and empowering experience.
Let us honor the spirit of Goddess Lajja Gouri by working toward a future where childbirth is safe, dignified, and natural, paving the way for healthier generations and a more humane healthcare system.
