Multiple Pregnancy (having more than one baby) at Fernandez Hospital

2001-2015

One of the well-known speciality hospitals for women and babies in Hyderabad, Fernandez Hospital has been providing personalized care with a high level of professionalism since its establishment in 1948. More than one and a half lakh babies have been delivered since its inception.

Apart from single babies, the doctors at Fernandez Hospital have also very successfully delivered multiple babies. Though multiple pregnancies with twins are common, triplets and quadruplets are not only rare but also complicated cases. Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, preterm birth and low birth weight are some of the complications related to multiple pregnancy. At Fernandez Hospital, if any complication arises during pregnancy they are handled very properly by skilled doctors making critical deliveries possible with normalcy.

Multiple pregnancies are known to be associated with the likelihood of pregnancy loss, preterm births, low birth weight babies and prolonged hospitalization. The expectant mother may develop high blood pressure or diabetes. In 2004, Fernandez Hospital found that there was enough evidence to support the need for a weekly special Out Patient Twins Clinic devoted to these mothers.

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The outcome of multiple pregnancy is much better with these dedicated clinics offering close monitoring and counseling. Fernandez Hospital presently provides two clinics a week as part of its obstetric care.  The Clinic screens monochorionic twins for TTTS and has successfully followed up patients post photocoagulation.During 2016, from January till October, 221 twins were delivered successfully at Fernandez Hospital. In fact, it’s a matter of pride that during this period, 8 sets of triplets and 1 set of quadruplets were also delivered. Handling such cases is not like the normal ones; they need extra monitoring along with specialists’ care and treatment. The doctors and other team members at Fernandez are so experienced and good at work that they make sure that no complications arise during childbirth and the delivery process is smooth keeping both mother and newborn healthy. The work of Fernandez Hospital doesn’t end here; proper postnatal care is taken till they are discharged from the hospital. Fernandez Hospital truly symbolises the epitome of mother and child care.

During 2016, from January till October, 221 twins were delivered successfully at Fernandez Hospital. In fact, it’s a matter of pride that during this period, 8 sets of triplets and 1 set of quadruplets were also delivered. Handling such cases is not like the normal ones; they need extra monitoring along with specialists’ care and treatment. The doctors and other team members at Fernandez are so experienced and good at work that they make sure that no complications arise during childbirth and the delivery process is smooth keeping both mother and newborn healthy. The work of Fernandez Hospital doesn’t end here; proper postnatal care is taken till they are discharged from the hospital. Fernandez Hospital truly symbolises the epitome of mother and child care.

Human Rights in Childbirth – A Global Movement A word from Dr. Evita Fernandez

 

why-human-rights-in-childbirth-matter-cover-pageOver the past seven years, my views on childbirth practices have taken a 180 degree turn. Today, I am convinced we obstetricians in India need to UNLEARN a lot of what we have been taught, and we need to LISTEN more to the women we are privileged to serve.

I realized, to my horror and shame, that we have indeed been violating a woman’s human right with regard to childbirth. Every time we fail to share/offer honest evidence based information, fail to give her the freedom to make a choice, prevent her from having a birth companion, refuse to let her birth in the position she finds most comfortable, we are violating her rights.

With a birth rate of 22 million a year, India has an overwhelming volume of laboring mothers, in overcrowded, poorly staffed hospitals. With institutional deliveries being made mandatory, the majority of our women are subjected to “obstetric violence,” which translates into physical and verbal abuse by healthcare workers, who are ignorant and insensitive to woman-centered care. I admit to being that myself (ignorant and insensitive) particularly in my early years of training and as a young obstetrician. Compounding all of this is the utter lack of privacy, loss of dignity and respect. Our women, especially the voiceless poor, birth in appalling environments.

Human rights in childbirth has today become a global movement which is gaining strength, and rightly so. Women, doctors, lawyers, midwives and activists are coming together to offer solutions to help protect the basic human rights of birthing women. We in India need to wake up. All levels of health care workers involved in maternity services, need to wake up. We need to reflect, rethink, and change our attitude and understanding of childbirth practices.

Rebecca Schiller in her well researched and well written book “Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter” says “Looking at how a society approaches childbirth, how it constructs a system around it, the rituals, the rites and the way it treats the key protagonist – the birthing woman – is akin to taking the temperature of that society. Nothing says more about the communities we live in than how they treat their most vulnerable at this extraordinary time.” – Rebecca Schiller, Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter (Pinter & Martin Why It Matters 9)

India is hosting the International Human Rights in Childbirth Conference in February (2 – 5th) in Mumbai. I hope, it will help bring about the much needed change in attitude, practices, and more importantly, help build a network of support for women birthing in our country.

For more details about the Conference, please visit : http://www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org/event/india-2017/

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Human Rights in Childbirth – A Global Movement A word from Dr. Evita Fernandez

 

why-human-rights-in-childbirth-matter-cover-pageOver the past seven years, my views on childbirth practices have taken a 180 degree turn. Today, I am convinced we obstetricians in India need to UNLEARN a lot of what we have been taught, and we need to LISTEN more to the women we are privileged to serve.

I realized, to my horror and shame, that we have indeed been violating a woman’s human right with regard to childbirth. Every time we fail to share/offer honest evidence based information, fail to give her the freedom to make a choice, prevent her from having a birth companion, refuse to let her birth in the position she finds most comfortable, we are violating her rights.

With a birth rate of 22 million a year, India has an overwhelming volume of laboring mothers, in overcrowded, poorly staffed hospitals. With institutional deliveries being made mandatory, the majority of our women are subjected to “obstetric violence,” which translates into physical and verbal abuse by healthcare workers, who are ignorant and insensitive to woman-centered care. I admit to being that myself (ignorant and insensitive) particularly in my early years of training and as a young obstetrician. Compounding all of this is the utter lack of privacy, loss of dignity and respect. Our women, especially the voiceless poor, birth in appalling environments.

Human rights in childbirth has today become a global movement which is gaining strength, and rightly so. Women, doctors, lawyers, midwives and activists are coming together to offer solutions to help protect the basic human rights of birthing women. We in India need to wake up. All levels of health care workers involved in maternity services, need to wake up. We need to reflect, rethink, and change our attitude and understanding of childbirth practices.

Rebecca Schiller in her well researched and well written book “Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter” says “Looking at how a society approaches childbirth, how it constructs a system around it, the rituals, the rites and the way it treats the key protagonist – the birthing woman – is akin to taking the temperature of that society. Nothing says more about the communities we live in than how they treat their most vulnerable at this extraordinary time.” – Rebecca Schiller, Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter (Pinter & Martin Why It Matters 9)

India is hosting the International Human Rights in Childbirth Conference in February (2 – 5th) in Mumbai. I hope, it will help bring about the much needed change in attitude, practices, and more importantly, help build a network of support for women birthing in our country.

For more details about the Conference, please visit : http://www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org/event/india-2017/

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Dr. Evita Fernandez’s response on the article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?

Original Article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?”

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I’m currently 29 weeks pregnant and have already lost track of the amount of times I’ve been told by people that ‘everything will be fine.’

Read complete article at:

Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This? | The Huffington Post

Dr.EvitaDr. Evita Fernandez’s response on the article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?”
When I was a young obstetrician and not as wise as I am today, I often spoke these lines “don’t worry- everything will be fine” believing at the time that it was. Indeed the truth.

Today, I LISTEN very very carefully to the unspoken words of the young mother before me. I do my best to understand her fears and help her work through it all. I have learnt to believe in maternal instincts; learnt to listen to women when they express a fear repeatedly. I also know that a pregnancy can go horribly wrong. Sometimes there are tell-tale signs to warn and prepare both sides. Sometimes, one does not get the luxury of time to prepare for a loss or morbidity affecting the mother or her newborn.

It is important for us obstetricians to give women the freedom to ask questions, to clarify doubts no matter how small they may appear and more importantly, to LISTEN and become aware of the unspoken fears.

May this article help us understand a different perspective. May it induce us to reflect and initiate change wherever necessary.