Childbirth expert Janet Chawla sources age-old wisdom to help women. By Reshmi Chakraborty

Men climb Mount Everest, women have babies, says natural childbirth expert, Janet Chawla. And before you rush to exclaim that women have climbed Everest as well, think deeper. As Janet explains, “Childbirth demands the spiritual, emotional, psychological resources of a woman, as much as any extreme physical activity does.”

The mother of three became an ardent advocate of natural childbirth methods after her daughter was born similarly with the help of midwives at Alternative Birth Centre, San Francisco. The experience changed Janet. She now runs Matrika, an organisation that started as a three-year research project on the knowledge, skills and practices of midwives, carried out in Rajasthan, Fatehgarh in Punjab, South Bihar and the resettlement colonies in Delhi.

Clash Of Methods
Janet, who held exercise classes for pregnant women in San Francisco, came to India 25 years ago. “I started teaching childbirth exercise classes to pregnant women and gradually some doctors contacted me to hold these in their clinics.” She updated her knowledge by doing a course called ‘Informed Homebirths’ in the US. “I also became a member of the ‘International Childbirth Educator’s Association’ and travelled to conferences around the world to learn more on the subject.”

About that time, Janet came to know about ‘dais’ or Indian midwives and organised a small study in association with the NGOs, Ankur and Action India on ‘women’s experience in childbearing.’ It meant difficult research. “Childbirth is spoken about in secretive tones and men are not allowed,” she says. The study became the basis of forming Matrika in 1995-96.

Janet believes that the ‘dai’s work is closely linked to religion and rituals. While she appreciates modern methods of childbirth, she asserts that very few doctors have the time and attention span for a woman at a time when she needs it the most. That’s where old wisdom could help.

“India is rich in childbirth related traditions, which we tend to forget. Lot of old women are childbirth experts and that knowledge should be utilised,” she asserts.

Safe Motherhood
The question is how? Many medical practitioners associate ‘dais’ with high maternal mortality rates and unhygienic practices. Janet agrees some practices could be unhygienic but counters that some of the traditional ways of handling birth could make motherhood safer.

At a time when Caesarean deliveries are increasing at an alarming rate in India, the question of integrating natural childbirth methods with modern techniques that most pregnant women go through, does exasperate her. It’s important, she says, to find a doctor who has an “open mind and the time to listen”. She plans to prepare a database of gynaecologists in the city who have a good reputation or have helped with natural childbirths.

“It’s also important to find a good natural childbirth class,” says Janet, who plans to train as a Doula (women childbirth experts who support women and their families in achieving the birth they desire) and start a training programme for others.

“It is about taking responsibility,” says Janet, adding, “women and their families need to imagine something different.”