What’s really driving birth practices in India today? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the Indian medical system—where convenience often takes priority over physiology, and where C-sections are rising not always because of necessity, but because they fit better into hospital schedules. We also explore how the ancient wisdom of our traditional dais—the original birth workers—is being ignored in the new midwifery models, and what that says about who gets to define "modern" care.

This is a conversation about over-medicalisation, missing voices, and the uncomfortable truths behind what we call “safe” birth today. If you're a parent-to-be, birthworker, or just someone who wants to understand the deeper layers of our system, this episode is for you.

About the Guest: Dr. Uplabdh Gopal is a medical doctor and health policy researcher at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). His work spans healthcare systems, medical technologies, and regulatory reform, with a focus on innovation and equity. He has contributed to national and global dialogues on Universal Health Coverage, health resilience, and digital health.

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Ultrasounds have become a routine part of modern pregnancy care — but how much do we really know about their origins, benefits, risks, and accuracy? We’ve all been told that ultrasounds are just a normal part of pregnancy — a way to “see the baby” and make sure everything’s okay. But have you ever wondered where this practice actually came from, what it’s truly meant for, and whether it’s always as harmless as it seems?

This episode is for every parent who wants to understand what’s being done and why — and for birth workers who want to support families with facts, not just protocols.

It’s not anti-ultrasound. It’s about asking better questions — because you deserve to know more than just “it’s routine.”

Backed by science yet rarely discussed with expecting parents, this conversation dives into:

• Where and why ultrasounds began in maternity care
• How did they become routine?
• The concerns around repeated scans
• How accurate are growth scans and due date predictions, really?
• How can you as a parent/mother/couple approach ultrasounds?

Tune in now!

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Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

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Shilpi was guided into a home birth through various channels — one of them being how the medical system was too keen to label hers as a geriatric pregnancy and potentially schedule her into a surgery.

Often, women over 35 are labelled as geriatric — meaning care for old people in the medical system. This brackets them into care meant for the elderly, including the approach of looking at everything through a high-risk lens. This often complicates pregnancy more than it is complicated in itself.

Shilpi's raw story takes us through her thoughts, preparation, as well as doubts and questions leading up to the birth. Her partner's support and preparation in birth, and more.

This is also a story of learning to take self-responsibility in birth — no matter where you birth — in a hospital, a birth center, or at home. Nobody but you decides how you want to be taken care of and when you wish the care to change. It is a very personal space, and there is a big role of intuition in life and birth itself.

Tune in to the story now.

About the Guest:

Part of my childhood was spent in the gorgeous valley of Dehradun, and then by the sea in Mumbai. I grew up in Mumbai and started my career there as a copywriter, but soon realised that documenting life visually attracted me the most. I learnt the art of visual narratives by assisting some internationally renowned American and European photojournalists based in Mumbai. It was while working as an editorial photographer with lifestyle magazines and newspapers that I felt a strong urge to explore the world of wedding photography. And it has been mesmerizing!

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

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In this episode, we discuss one of the most commonly used—and misused—reasons for cesarean in India: Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD), or the claim that a woman’s pelvis is “too small” for her baby’s head.

We dig into:

• What CPD actually is (and what it isn’t)
• Why true CPD is extremely rare—yet so frequently cited
• How fetal position, mobility in labor, and hospital timelines all impact diagnosis
• The danger of using estimated baby weight or maternal size to justify early surgery
• What women can ask or do if told they have CPD

Episodes to listen to explore further

EP88: Big Baby - A curse or Boon

EP83: Induction an epidemic?

EP101: Lavanya's Unnecessary Cesarean and the experience of Induction

EP106: Nikita's experience of Labor Pain with or without Induction

EP128: Decoding Meconium- the good and the bad?

With CPD being used to silence or rush thousands of birthing women every year, it’s time we take a closer look at the science—and the stories.

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

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It’s all too common—women being rushed into surgery at the very sight or even assumption of meconium in conventional hospital settings. Add to that the pressure many women face to deliver before 40 weeks, based on general risks that may not even apply to them personally.

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Dr. Vijaya Krishnan, Certified Professional Midwife and founder of Sanctum Natural Birth Center, a pioneering autonomous midwifery-led birth center in India. With over 18 years of experience, Dr. Vijaya brings insight into what truly matters when it comes to safe, individualized care.

We unpack:

1. What meconium really means—when it’s normal, and when it’s not.
2. How meconium is approached at different stages of labor.
3. Can meconium be detected on an ultrasound?
4. Is artificially breaking the water helpful to check for or speed things up?
5. Why shared responsibility between provider and parents changes everything.
6. How preparation, education, and continuity of care impact outcomes.

Book Recommendations by Dr Vijaya:

• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery – by Ina May Gaskin
• Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage – by Dr. Rachel Reed ( My addition)

Connect with Dr. Vijaya:
📸 Instagram – @sanctumbirthcenter
🌐 Website – healthy-mother.com

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

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Postpartum in India is celebrated in rituals, gatherings and expectations—but what about the actual needs of a new mother?

In this episode, I unpack 5 ways Indian women can experience a gentler, more supported postpartum phase—especially in the midst of complex family dynamics. From the emotional toll of unsolicited advice to the silent pressure to perform as a "good bahu," we explore how the early days after birth can feel more like a test than a time for healing.

We also talk about the vital role partners play—not just in baby care, but in mediating boundaries, protecting the mother’s space, and making sure her voice isn’t drowned out by cultural noise.

I also touch upon a deeply sensitive issue: the bias between families that exist with respect to the new family unit, the relationship with in laws , privacy and emotional boundaries—and how that dynamic can affect postpartum wellbeing.

If you're a new parent, expecting, or simply navigating these unspoken tensions, this episode will give you tools to make postpartum not just survivable—but sacred.

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

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In this episode, we explore the often misunderstood world of nipple shields—thin silicone covers used during breastfeeding. We’ll discuss why they’re so commonly recommended in the Indian hospitals, and how it can impact your breastfeeding journey.

As a Lactation Counselor, I see numerous cases where Nipple Shields alter the complete breastfeeding pace and route for mothers , so much so that, it sometimes, a lot more effort to establish breastfeeding.

We see in this episode , how this can be prevented earlier on in this journey.

Request the brochure for my Exclusive Efficient Breastfeeding and Postpartum program

Or book a free 20 min Call and connect with me ...

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

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The primary aspect of birth is finding a place that supports us.
For some women, no institution feels like a safe space where they can truly let go and allow their intuition to guide them—where they can allow the process to unfold in its most optimal form. For others, a birth center that supports the natural function of the body is the right path.

Self-direction is crucial in any birth journey.
Afeeda’s birth story is an inspiring example of a self-directed birth—one rooted in deep connection with the self and intuition.

Today, we discuss:

• Afeeda’s journey of finding a birth center
• Events leading up to the birth
• Counseling she received along the way
• Self-directed decisions made at every step
• Her experience of labor and birth
• Breastfeeding and immediate postpartum

Afeeda holds a doctorate in Sociology and is a Social Anthropologist. Her research focuses on the embodied experience of pain in both medical and religious domains. She is the founder of Daiirah, a company that fosters a community centered around reconnecting with oneself. As a Life Coach, she has mentored students and institutions, helping them navigate emotional challenges and reach their highest potential.

Support the show

Sign up for Childbirth Preparation Programs! visit www.birthagni.com/birthclasses

This episode is supported and made possible by podcast recording and hosting tool Zencastr, it is impeccably made!

Use my link : https://zen.ai/vxmuJUgYKKGTF3JuTuFQ0g to sign up and record flawless remote podcast , USE my code : BIRTHAGNI

Support the show:

Donations (India) - https://birthagni.com/birthagnipodcast#podcast-list
Donations (world) - buymeacoffee.com/birthagni

• If you like what you hear, leave us
  • a rating on Spotify app and answer the question at each episode!
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