Confessions of a non-judgemental OBGYN

Confessions of a non-judgemental OBGYN. 

Let me introduce myself - 

Hometown & Foundational Education

Born in a small town called Vizianagaram (Visakhapatnam) and raised in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, I pursued my medical under-graduation at the prestigious Siddhartha Medical College, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences. It wasn’t a childhood dream to become a gynecologist—I entered medicine with a closed mind of getting into General Medicine, specializing in Cardiology eventually. My undergraduate education was rigorous and transformative. In a setting where more than 50 deliveries occurred daily, rest was a rare luxury. That intensity exposed me early on to the reality of birth trauma, both physical and emotional. I witnessed countless women endure labor with minimal support or autonomy, and it shifted something deep within me.

First Encounters with Trauma & Compassion

Amid back-to-back shifts in the labor room, I started noticing women’s faces—some in pain, some hopeful, others afraid. I began to grasp that pregnancy and childbirth are not just clinical events but profoundly emotional journeys. I realized that the moments surrounding birth could shape a mother’s psychological well-being just as significantly as her physical health. That realization ignited my interest in compassionate obstetrics and the need for more women-centered care.

Embracing Obstetrics & Gynecology: A Transformative Master’s in Chennai

The Transition to Chennai

Driven to deepen my expertise, I moved to Chennai and enrolled at Vijaya Hospital for my DNB in Obstetrics & Gynecology. This phase marked a turning point—not just geographically but philosophically. Here, I discovered a patient-care philosophy rooted in evidence-based medicine, enriched by an unwavering commitment to respectful, empathetic communication.

Mentorship That Shaped My Philosophy

Under the guidance of Dr. Savithri Subramanyam, I honed an approach that combined clinical precision with holistic empathy. Dr. Savithri taught me the importance of looking beyond charts and protocols. A pregnant woman is not merely a case of prenatal care—she’s a person with hopes, fears, and a story. From psychological support to nutrition, prenatal education to pain relief options, she deserves an experience that resonates long after the baby arrives. It wasn’t just about delivering a baby—it was about delivering joy, confidence, and empowerment. That philosophy became the foundation of my professional ethos.

Corporate Experience: From Global, Motherhood, Cloud9, Apollo 

Learning the Business of Birthing

Post-MD, I joined two of Chennai’s leading corporate maternity hospitals: Motherhood and Cloudnine. These hubs are renowned for their modern infrastructure, advanced maternity suites, and emphasis on patient satisfaction. But what they also taught me, in many ways, was that medical excellence isn’t enough unless accompanied by emotional presence and consistency. They also gave a very fair share of what not to do or how not to treat being a healthcare professional, nursing included. 

The Power of the Gynaecologist–Companion Role

I realized the transformative power of being a gynaecologist-companion. I wasn’t just overseeing vitals, prescribing medicines, or performing deliveries. I was holding hands, offering reassurance, celebrating small triumphs, listening. It’s a holistic presence—physical, emotional, mental—sustained throughout the pregnancy and labor process. That connection transforms not only outcomes but the entire birthing narrative. This revelation steered me toward founding THE BIRTHWAVE, where being a trusted partner for mother and child became the core of my mission.

A Gynaecologist with a Healthy Dose of Fear: Why It Matters

The Paradox of Fear

Here’s my confession: I am terrified of birthing myself. Yes—a gynecologist with nearly 15 years of experience, who’s assisted 1000s of deliveries, still carries an innate fear. It’s a humbling paradox, but it’s also profoundly human.

“If I—armed with medical knowledge—can be intimidated by the birthing process, imagine how an expecting mother must feel if she goes into it unprepared or uninformed.”

That fear drives me. It pushes me to design an approach to prenatal education and emotional readiness that leaves no woman feeling uncertain, unsafe, or powerless.

Introducing #BirthToRemember: A Movement, Not Just a Hashtag

Vision & Mission

The name may seem a little weird but I was totally inspired from American romantic drama of the early 2000s - A walk to remember! 

Well, the moral of the story is no matter how much you wish to forget, birth is something which imprints in the subconscious memory. So the better works for good, the worse for trauma. And it never ends with just birth. 

I founded the birthtoremember initiative to shift childbirth narratives. Our vision:

• Empowered women, equipped not just medically but mentally. Labour is more psychological than you think 
• Fearless birthing, grounded in knowledge, agency, and support. Even if it is fearful, addressing them and moving on. 
• Women who walk through pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood with confidence and autonomy.

                                                                                               

 

This initiative is more than a campaign—it’s a community. We hold workshops on early and late pregnancy care, labor preparation, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. We talk about birth plans, pain relief options, natural birth, cesarean considerations, and mental health support. We foster dialogue, dismantle myths, and build networks where women support each other, pre- and post-delivery.

Community Building

We also run forums, WhatsApp groups, and monthly in-person meetups at THE BIRTHWAVE. We share stories, answer real-time questions, and empower women as they navigate uncertain terrain. Because the best learning is grounded in lived experience.

THE BIRTHWAVE: Chennai’s Integrative Hub for Reproductive, Women’s & Family Health

Clinic Overview

Today, I run THE BIRTHWAVE, an Integrative Health Clinic located in Nungambakkam, Chennai, focusing on men’s, women’s, and children’s health. We’re not just a clinic—we’re a haven. We’ve designed our space to be warm, inclusive, and welcoming, with:

• Private, soothing consultation rooms
• Mother-baby-friendly surroundings
• Child-friendly decor and play zones
• An integrative approach to reproductive health, women’s wellness, fertility, prenatal care, postpartum support—all under one roof

Services We Provide

• Gynecology & Obstetrics: from routine checkups to high-risk pregnancy management
• Fertility Services: investigations and support for couples facing infertility
• Prenatal Care: holistic assessments, nutrition, mental wellness, and childbirth preparation
• Labor & Delivery Preparation: empathetic guidance, birth plans and partner-inclusive births
• Postpartum Care: psychological support, lactation counseling, family integration
• Well-Women Care: pap smears, menstrual disorders, menopause, pelvic floor rehabilitation
• Pediatric & Men’s Health: health maintenance for the entire family
• Sexual Health: Intimacy counseling, management of Vaginismus 
• General Medicine & Diabetology
• Urology & Andrology 
• General and Laparoscopy Surgeries 
• Naturopathy Consults 
• Ayurveda Consults and therapies
  

Integrative Philosophy

At THE BIRTHWAVE, medical treatment is just part of the picture. We incorporate:

• Nutrition counseling tailored to women, men, children
• Mental wellness support via meditation, group therapy, stress-management strategies
• Physical therapy for pelvic health, postpartum recovery, and sports injuries
• Yoga & Mind–Body Programs designed for fertility, pregnancy comfort, prenatal calm

Crafting an Empowering Pregnancy & Birth Experience

Prenatal Workshops & Education

Our prenatal workshops empower couples and women to:

• Understand fetal growth, trimester milestones, routine screening
• Navigate labor pain: from breathing techniques to epidural pros/cons
• Craft birth plans—natural birth, water birth, operative delivery—without fear
• Learn postpartum recovery methods including newborn care, maternal hormones, and mental health

Personalized Birth Plans

Every woman receives her own custom birth plan, co-created with her partner (if applicable). Together we discuss preferences on:

• Use of hormonal induction, analgesia, birth positions
• Early skin-to-skin contact and delayed cord clamping
• Infant feeding: breastfeeding, donor milk, or formula
• Neonatal care: monitoring, immunizations, and follow-up

Emotional Labor Support

I’ve been in the labour room when a mother, panicked or in tears, felt safe because I spoke to her, named her fear, and reminded her she’s not alone. That bond fuels her strength and resilience. And often, color our birthing outcomes positively.

Fertility, Family Planning & Reproductive Wellness

Fertility Support

Fertility challenges touch so many couples. At THE BIRTHWAVE, we provide:

• Reproductive endocrinology evaluation (AMH, FSH, TSH, uterine/pelvic scans)
• Fertility counseling: couples face infertility—emotional and physical—together, not in desperation or shame
• Gentle interventions: ovulation induction, IUI, and strategic IVF referrals when needed

Holistic Family Planning

Our clinic emphasizes:

• Counseling on contraception options: hormonal, IUDs, barrier, natural family planning
• Preconception counseling—from lifestyle optimization to genetic screening and vaccinations
• Men’s reproductive health too: ensuring couples approach fertility as a team

Women’s Wellness Across the Lifespan

From menstrual irregularities to menopause, THE BIRTHWAVE offers comprehensive care:

• Dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, PCOS, fibroid counseling
• Menopause management: HRT, lifestyle advice, bone health
• Pelvic floor rehabilitation: incontinence and prolapse management
• Sexual health: pain, libido, intimacy concerns— handled respectfully and discreetly.

The Importance of Birth Trauma Prevention & Emotional Safety

What Is Birth Trauma?

Birth trauma goes beyond physical risk; it is emotional or psychological harm felt during childbirth. Symptoms might include:

• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Emotional detachment
• Breastfeeding difficulties due to anxiety or fear
• Avoidance of maternal/newborn care

How We Prevent It

• Maintain informed consent at every step
• Offer emotional reassurance before and during labor
• Provide a safe birthing environment—be it water birth, natural birth, or family-centered cesarean
• Conduct postpartum evaluations to identify and manage emotional distress early

Birth to Remember: Women-Centered Care in Action

Real-Life Stories

• “I felt like I had a partner, not just a doctor.”
• “Understanding my birth plan helped me labor with less fear.”
• “My postpartum home visit made a world of difference.”

These testimonials reflect how holistic, empathic, and individualized care nurtures positive maternal mental health and physical well-being.

Best Practices We Follow

• Tailoring protocols to accommodate natural birth whenever appropriate
• Using evidence-based medicine for labor induction, hypertension, gestational diabetes
• Balancing medical readiness with emotional safeguarding
• Monitoring maternal mental health through validated screening tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
• Providing ongoing, long-term support rather than just one-off appointments

From my humble roots in Vijayawada, through my medical evolution in Chennai, to founding THE BIRTHWAVE and launching #birthtoremember, my path has been defined by one singular passion: creating joyful, empowered, trauma-free childbirth experiences.

Whether you're seeking compassionate obstetric care, fertility support, prenatal guidance, or postpartum healing, I’m here to be your support—clinically, emotionally, intimately.

Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts delving deeper into:

• Fertility myths & facts
• Evidence-based prenatal nutrition
• Preparing for labor & postpartum recovery
• Managing birth trauma and mental wellness

In the meantime, feel free to explore THE BIRTHWAVE’s website, book a consultation, or connect via social media. Let’s make your birth journey absolutely unforgettable. 

 

                                                                                                                                             - Dr Santoshi Nandigam

Obstetrics and gynecology