Blog Category: Birth Stories

 I have always been fascinated by water birth and dreamed of experiencing one myself. That dream led me to discover Aastrika Midwifery Centre — a true blessing in disguise, as it happened to be just 4 km from where I live. From my very first consultation, I knew this place was special. The experience was deeply personal and unlike any typical doctor visit. Dr. Vinutha, Dr. Anupama, Dr. Dhwany and Dr. Annanyaa stood out to me— each playing a pivotal role in making me feel heard, empowered, and confident in my birthing choices.

Just as I had envisioned, I gave birth to my baby unmedicated, in water, with my partner by my side and surrounded by the most positive and supportive energy from the team. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

Postpartum care at Aastrika deserves a special mention. Both the baby and I were truly pampered, and I felt deeply cared for even after discharge — something many new mothers often miss out on. A nutritionist took the time to explain the significance of the fourth trimester, emphasizing the importance of diet, rest, and self-care. This wasn’t just for me, but also for my caregiver, ensuring I had a joyful and smooth recovery. I’m incredibly grateful to the wonderful nurses who supported us every step of the way.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Jahnavi, who created this incredible community. During my pregnancy, she shared her own empowering birth story, which resonated with me deeply. Her experience gave me strength, and after giving birth, I truly understood the inspiration behind her words. It’s amazing how she’s been able to build a space where others, like me, can have such meaningful and beautiful birthing experiences.

#LongPostAlert

Hello everyone,

This is Akshatha Kadaba.

A new mommy to a sweet baby girl 🥰

Our story in short –

We had a growth restricted baby as per reports…

I was consulting in another hospital and a doctor until my 37 weeks.

My earlier hospital told me that I will have to go for an immediate emergency C section since there is an FGR baby and they wouldn’t wait,

With a very unfortunate situation at home , and this , me and my husband were clueless as to what to do.

That’s when we consulted Aastrika as my second opinion in my 37th week

(I really wished I had consulted them earlier.) 

Honestly, we just came here to consult the doctor and see if the case is actually true as per my old hospital or is there something that we can do to push the delivery. 

We first met with Dr.Dhwany! 

And what a solace. 

The first thing she did was to calm us down. 

She said , “You don’t have to admit here, but I’ll give you clarity of what is happening and how much time you guys have for the delivery and can take a chance”.

She gave us hope 🥰

The next day , we decided that we would admit at Aastrika for my delivery whenever it happens.

It truly is very commendable that they accepted me at 37weeks.

We were then asked to do stimulation processes etc to induce labour since I had a FGR   baby. 

I was guided by the entire team of Aastrika during the process.

I had a meeting with 2 doctors ,

Dr.Dhwany

Dr.Vinutha

And was completely guided by 

Midwives – Salomi , Anju and Tintu during the other processes.

I was admitted to the hospital 2 days before to get an induction done. 

And started getting induced from the morning at 4am.

I had not dilated for more than 2cm with no contractions until 9pm the previous night. 

I started off with Mild Contractions from 9pm onwards 

And hit the peak at the 3.30am where I was dilated 5cms. 

Salomi sister was with me throughout the night guiding me with exercises. 

She finished her shift at 8am 

I asked her to give me a pain killer injection since I was finding it difficult to stand the pain.

I was given a pain killer, 10mins later my water broke.

And then I was simply asked to wait until I was fully dilated to deliver.

Since I had taken a pain killer I was completely drowsy and with no sleep at night , I started losing it.

That’s when our superheroes Dr.Dhwany and Tintu sister and their team supported me to the fullest without caring for the tantrums I was throwing,

I gave up , but they pushed me to push. 🤌

I finally got to also meet Dr.Anupama on my birthing bed, who tried to lighten my mood while delivering….

With all this, finally baby girl was born at 39weeks 1day, with a weight of 2.48kgs.

Me and my entire family just can’t thank Aastrika team enough for such a guided delivery 🙌🏻. Where there was no hope, they gave us hope 🙏

Thank you team Aastrika for being with us at the most crucial part of our journey.

There’s still so much to share , but I don’t think words are enough for me to tell what I have experienced.

Truly a magical birth experience 🙏

I felt like home at Aastrika! Forever Grateful for making my birth plan a reality! 

Thank you Aastrika for honoring and supporting my birth plan in the best way possible. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to help bring my first baby into the world!

From the very start, my experience with Aastrika was incredible. My consultations with Dr. Anupama were so reassuring. Her guidance, expertise, and ability to empower me with the right information were invaluable throughout my pregnancy.

Dr. Vinutha was an absolute pillar of support. With my low-lying placenta, I knew there were risks, including a higher chance of bleeding. While a C-section was always a possibility, I really wanted a natural delivery. She explored every option to make that happen, always keeping the safety of me and my baby as the top priority. Her calm approach and confidence gave me the strength I needed, and I’m so grateful I could have a natural birth with her help.

Things progressed really quickly when I went into labor, and Dr. Dhwany was right there when I needed her the most. She stood by me the whole time, making sure my delivery was as safe as possible despite the challenges. She truly was a blessing for me and my baby that day!

I also need to give a special shoutout to Tintu Chechi. From the moment I arrived at Aastrika in labor, she never left my side. Whether it was helping me through exercises to progress into labor, encouraging me when I felt like I couldn’t go on, or just being a constant source of emotional support, she was there. Her belief in me kept me going when the pain got too intense. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her!

The prenatal and labor planning sessions with Pavithra were such a big help too, and the nurses, lactation consultants, and pediatricians made sure we were ready for everything – from breastfeeding to diaper changes and burping. They made Aastrika feel like home for us.

Finally, a huge thanks to Dr. Janhavi for her amazing vision to empower women with the right birth choices. Her calm and supportive presence throughout my journey made all the difference.

I’ll always cherish the care, support, and love I got at Aastrika during this special time!

Hi Everyone ,

I went through a c sec on 26th at Aastrika and returned home yesterday with a beautiful baby girl 🙂

As my baby was breech and a couple of more complications I developed during 9th month, I couldn’t have the chance to go for vaginal delivery process, Aastrika is known for, yet the care and support I received  even post the surgery  and especially during breastfeeding, I couldn’t have asked for more 🙏

So much so, I was scared how I would manage at home as it felt so mentally relieving and almost effortless with the support of all the sisters🙂 Now when I think, it’s difficult even to say that a particular one was really nice as almost all of them were there listening to you patiently and helping you with all sorts of beginner’s queries and otherwise too.

My husband and I are really grateful for this incredible warmth and support shared with us and our baby.

Thank you so much Dr. Jahnavi for creating this ecosystem. I hope India gets more hospitals like Aastrika.

On October 23rd at 11:30 PM, my water broke, marking the start of my long and unforgettable journey to meet my baby. Following Dr. Janhavi’s advice, I decided to stay at home until my contractions intensified and were consistently occurring every five minutes. By 7:30 AM the next morning, I headed to the hospital, eager yet anxious about what lay ahead.

At the hospital, I was informed that my contractions were irregular, and I was only 3 cm dilated. Determined to speed up the process, I spent the next six hours doing everything I could—squats, climbing stairs, and other exercises—to encourage my contractions. Despite my efforts, after eight hours, I was just 4 cm dilated, and progress seemed agonizingly slow. At that point, I felt defeated and hopeless, questioning if I had the strength to go on.

But then came the unwavering support of the incredible team of women at Aastrika. Their care, patience, and encouragement gave me strength I didn’t know I had. Among them, Tintu Chechi stood out as my pillar of support. She stayed by my side throughout, her warmth and reassurance making me feel as if I was at home. Her constant words of encouragement kept me going when I was ready to give up.

At one point, overwhelmed by the pain, I begged the doctors and midwives for a C-section, feeling I couldn’t endure any longer. But at Aastrika, they are committed to supporting natural birth whenever possible. Dr. Anupama was steadfast in her confidence that I could deliver vaginally. Despite my screams and tears, she remained calm, patient, and supportive, guiding me through the toughest moments.

After 20 hours of labor, I finally delivered a healthy baby boy vaginally. The journey was long and painful, but the love and support I received from Dr. Anupama, Tintu Chechi, and the entire team at Aastrika made it all possible. I am forever grateful to these wonder-women for their care and dedication, which helped me find the strength to achieve what felt impossible.

My birthing experience at Aastrika was really calm, peaceful and relaxed. 

The baby was due on 10th December. I made sure to visit the parlour and get my eyebrows and facial done before going to Aastrika! Parlour waali aunty asked me when is your due date. When I said it’s today, she made her eyes wide open and laughed. 

My pregnancy required an induction, so on the day of admission, my waters were broken and we waited. I put on my music playlist and was listening to positive affirmations. It took about 2 hours for proper surges to start, but once they did, I thought my baby would be out on the same day. 

My midwife told me you have a long way to meet your baby, just relax. She offered me a yoga ball, which I accepted. I sat on the ball, began soft bounces and hip rolls and some exercises. Some hypnobirthing techniques also helped me. 

Now here comes the super woman 1- Tintu chechi, who kept on monitoring me, took me for a walk, and helped me squat many times to progress further. I was 3-4 cm dilated by 1am and this is when she asked me if I needed some natural pain relief methods. I agreed to it and it helped me relax more. I had a good sleep for a long time. I forgot I’m here to birth, instead I was enjoying the birth suite! 

Here comes another super woman 2, Salomi chechi. She really helped the labour to progress. A much required person at that moment, to remind me to enjoy the birth suite, at the same time telling me to get out of the bed and move because “only then you will be able to meet your baby soon”.  She kept on reminding me to drink lots of water.  

My husband sat beside me the entire time rubbing my back, holding my hand, or giving me water when needed. He also encouraged me to move.

By the time my baby arrived, I felt strong, supported, and empowered. I am truly grateful to the Aastrika midwives and my husband for helping me have such a beautiful birthing experience.

#BirthAdventure #TeamWork 

Over the 4 trimesters I have realised that while every story starting from pregnancy, labour, and post delivery is different, it is made much more special by the team at AMC. The efforts gone into understanding a mother, not just medically, but personally, make it so much more unique than any caregiver I have come across 💕 .

All went smoothly till my 38th Week appointment. Dr.Anupama told me that I was already 2cm dilated, the baby was stationed well, and that I should continue with my life normally. Coming out of the doctor’s room, both my husband and I were elated 😇 . I had a physiotherapy session scheduled at AMC right after and to our surprise I started having contractions within the session. I informed Salomi Chechi and she instructed me to monitor. She also warned me that I may have to come in for delivery in a day or two. The excitement and anxiety all kicked in together. We rushed home and started sorting everything out. Both my husband and I handed in our leaves (maternity leave for me and 3 weeks leave for my husband 🤣🤣 ).

Interestingly, the contractions took a pause by morning…… and to my disbelief for the next 10 days I experienced start-stop contractions 😅. Funnily enough, while I was waiting for it to progress, the team at Aastrika were also waiting for me to come in. Honestly, I too wanted to be there 10 days sooner🤣 !! How it happened and why it happened are questions that continue to remain unanswered. We ended up doing a lot of exercises together during those 10 days 🥵. Finally, upon the arrival of the due date, we took a scan followed by the appointment. I had progressed to 3 cm dilation and a membrane sweep was conducted. That evening the contractions became stronger and progressed into the night. The following day by noon, I was admitted, led by good strong contractions.

I slid into active labour and by midnight was completely dilated. I tried almost all of the birthing tools. Baby D was born just before dawn and I was thrilled to see him, enjoy the golden hour, and every bit thereafter . ❤️

My husband was there every bit of the way from early labour, spending all those leaves with me, active labour and after. He helped me through each of the birthing tools while keeping me hydrated. Looking back, I am immensely thankful for him. Even during the pregnancy he took over when I was most down (and he still does❤️ ).

Having spent the initial few weeks consulting with a ‘normal maternity’ hospital, it was not too difficult to understand why Aastrika stood out. Even today, postpartum, I know I have gained a family with the team at Aastrika . ❤️❤️

Our journey at Aastrika was beyond anything I could have imagined! To rewind a bit, Ahmed, my mom, sister, and I hadn’t slept more than two hours in two days, thanks to my discomfort and false contractions. By the time we rushed to Aastrika on Monday night (November 27), we were already running on empty. But the real adventure was just beginning!  

Active labor kicked off around 1:30 – 2 a.m. (after a comforting bowl of Maggi!), and I half expected Ahmed to sneak in a nap. But there he was, holding my hand, reminding me to breathe—something I never realized I needed so much. From stretching exercises to endless dips in the tub, Ahmed was right there by my side, phone in his pocket, playing our playlist. Fun fact: Baby K still falls asleep to those tunes!  

In between contractions, I remember Ahmed resting his head on the tub, always ready to jump up and comfort me. And I can still taste that ORS he insisted I drink! Around 6 a.m., I was screaming for a C-section, but there he was again

calm and steady, telling me, “We’ve got this. You can do it.” The patience he showed with a screaming woman in his face? Unmatched!  

By the end, he joked about his numb hand from all my gripping, pulling, and squeezing. He was also the first to tell me we could see our baby’s head—just the hope I needed to push through.  

Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without the incredible support of Sister Salomi and Sister Tintu. Their expertise made everything feel safe and empowering. Choosing Aastrika was the best decision we made, and it brought me even closer to Ahmed, showing me just how strong and patient he truly is!

We did our maternity shoot on Friday and had a super loooooongggg day. 

Saturday morning, 4.30am: I woke up to a trickle of amniotic fluid. I waited for a bit to see if anything else would happen! My husband woke up and was asking why I was sitting, and if I was having heartburn.

I said “I think my water broke”. He woke up and went to take a bath 🤣🤣 

My bag was not ready yet… And the house was in a mess, so I started cleaning! 

5.30am: I called the nurses station. Salomi chechi asked if I could bear the pain. She told to leave home a little later after labour progresses.

7:00AM: I started getting strong contractions and pains, and since we lived far away, I thought it was better we leave after breakfast. 

8.30AM: 

En route, we stopped the car during each contraction for me to be comfortable.

My mother in law kept saying “let’s just go to any hospital on the way instead of going so far”… but I was so so determined to get a water birth 🌊

10.30am: We reached the hospital, Salomi chechi said I was already 6cm dilated and I could be admitted 🥹 It was the happiest thing I heard.

While they made the room ready, I kept drinking ghee and jeera water.

Chechi kept asking me to walk and do exercise but me being the lazy me… I just couldn’t bear the pain 🙈

Once we got to the room, she did some exercises for the baby to get to an optimal position… And the golden words “you can get into the tub” were all that I heard.

11.45AM: I got into the tub and oh my god! It was heaven! ☁️☁️☁️

And then the contractions kept getting more intense and there were times when I was so so tired… Chechi and my husband kept hydrating me and just being there ❤️

And then out came a tennis ball 🎾 I didn’t know what it was at that time 🤣 My husband kept using that and massaging my back… gosh that really helped…

Fast Forward ⏩: I kept napping in the middle of contractions… And then came the feeling of pushing. Good news for you all – the contraction pain vanishes and the feeling to push just intensifies. 

Somehow 2 hours passed and I still was not able to push her out… I was sooooo tired… Chechi kept saying “I can see the head”… and my husband asked “how much hair does the baby have?” 🤣🤣

And then I did give up in the middle since I was soo tired… but my cheerleaders didn’t give up.

I took laughing gas during contractions for some time. 

And even after two hours, my poor baby was still not out. Chechi said it’s time to get out of the tub and try. She gave me two last pushes to either get the baby out or we would leave the tub. 

I remember Chechi telling me “Akanksha, you got into the tub, you should not leave the tub without the baby.”

And with all that motivation, in one last extremely difficult push and an extremely loud scream… the baby was out 👶

And we saw it was a girl ❤️ and my heart was so full looking at her ❤️

My husband cut the cord… and we had our skin to skin 🤩 

Now when I think about it… It was such an amazing experience 😍 

Thank you Janhavi⁩ 😘 You have made so many of our deliveries such a memorable experience 😍

At my 38 week visit with Dr. Anupama, everything was normal. She encouraged me to follow all the guidance such as duckwalks to go into spontaneous labour, as it was a VBAC. 

A couple of days later, I started getting lower back pain and some discharge. I went to AMC at night, but after checking, Tintu chechi recommended I go home as it was still very early. 

The next morning, I was doing brisk walks, duck walks, squats, climbing stairs, and then had breakfast and rested. 

When I went back to AMC, I was 4cm! I got admitted and started doing exercises. My contractions were regular and more intense. 

After some hours at 4cm, Dr Meghana suggested that breaking the water would help me progress, and I gave my consent. 

After that I started getting intense pain which was very difficult to tolerate. Salomi chechi gave me hot water massage to my back, and checked my vitals.

Tintu chechi came at 8PM and when I saw her, I was the happiest person!  

I thought I would take a painkiller and rest for sometime, but when Dr Meghana came to check my dilation before giving the pain killer, to our surprise, I was fully dilated! 

I was in cloud 9 after hearing this! All thanks to Tintu chechi and the encouragement I got from team AMC ❤️

I was really scared of the possibility of CPD, which had led to a c-section during my first delivery.  Dr Meghana reassured me that the baby was settled in the pelvis.

When I felt like pushing, I told Tintu chechi, and sat in a squat position, and then on the birthing stool. 

Tintu chechi was giving me a hot water bag massage continuously, and always encouraging me. I believed everything she said and kept pushing despite the pain. I was really motivated by her words. 

She told me that the baby’s head was visible and I saw it in the mirror. My husband encouraged me and kept me hydrated. After 15-20 pushes, the baby was out! He was immediately put on my breast for skin to skin contact. My husband took the honour of cutting the cord. 

Overall, it was a sweet and short experience, where I was loved and cared for at every moment in AMC. 

Special thanks to Dr Janhavi who guided me with the lifestyle tips to go into spontaneous labour.

My post-delivery stay at AMC was very comfortable and it never felt like a hospital environment. Each and every person in AMC cared for and supported me until discharge.

This birth was my dream came true, I will cherish those moments forever. Thank you to the wonderful women of AMC. Loads and lots of 💕