Madiluu Birth Centre Redefines Maternity Care in Bangalore, India with Groundbreaking Integrated Model

Bangalore, India – 13 September, 2024
With its Grand Opening on Saturday, 14 September 2024, Madiluu Birth Centre is reshaping
the future of maternity care in Bangalore by combining midwifery expertise with obstetric care
to set a new standard for maternal and newborn health. This integrated approach advances
the field of respectful childbirth, promoting excellence in care for both mothers and babies.
The centre features five birthing suites, a prenatal clinic, an operating room, recovery and
triage rooms, and a level 1 NICU, offering comprehensive services for families in the
childbearing year and beyond. Madiluu Birth Centre offers a range of services, including
prenatal care, childbirth education classes, gentle birth, water birth options, lactation support,
and postpartum care. The centre is committed to empowering women to make informed
decisions about their maternity care and to providing compassionate support to families
throughout the childbirth experience.
In many countries like The Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden, women receive the
majority of their maternity care from midwives, with excellent outcomes. Similarly,
developing nations such as Rwanda, Honduras, and Bangladesh have seen significant declines
in maternal mortality rates since introducing midwifery as primary care during the perinatal
period.
Midwives provide continuous care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, with
obstetricians involved only if complications arise. This model has resulted in lower
intervention rates and positive outcomes for mothers and newborns, highlighting the
effectiveness of midwifery-led care in improving maternal health without over-medicalizing
childbirth.
In a healthcare landscape where India faces alarming rates of maternal morbidity and
mortality, compounded by obstetric violence, Madiluu is committed to creating a safe space
for families. India accounts for approximately 17% of global maternal deaths, despite progress
in reducing maternal mortality rates over the past few decades. Fear, convenience-based
practices, and over-reliance on technology have normalized violence and poor outcomes,
including a rising rate of caesarean sections, which in Karnataka surged to over 40% during
the 2023-2024 reporting period—far exceeding the World Health Organization’s
recommended threshold of 10-15%.
“At Madiluu, we don’t just provide care; we transform the birthing experience, ensuring
every family receives the respect, choice, and compassion they deserve,” said Chetana
Kulkarni, co-founder of Madiluu Birth Centre.
Founded by a diverse team that includes an Indian midwife, an obstetrician, a parent
advocate, and a 25-year veteran midwife with a public health master’s degree in
Maternal/Child Health Systems, Madiluu’s integrated approach is collaborative at all
levels—midwifery and obstetrics, art and science, safety and the sacred. The parent and baby
are seen as one unit during the peripartum period, with little-to-no separation even when
complications arise.
“Our goal is to create a safe haven where birthing families are treated with dignity, love,
and humanity, no matter the circumstances,” said Chetana Kulkarni.
Madiluu means “the safety of a parent’s lap or mother’s arms” in Kannada. The team believes
deeply in the sovereignty of bodily autonomy, the power of choice, and the human right to
compassionate, culturally matched care. They envision Madiluu as a leader in revolutionizing
maternal care, beginning in Bangalore and eventually across India and beyond.