Fernandez Hospital Highlights Collaborative Midwifery Care on International Day of the Midwife
Hospital showcases 94% vaginal birth rate at midwife-led unit and expands awareness on evidence-based maternal care
The hospital also launched a digital storytelling campaign featuring doctors, midwives and mothers, along with virtual tours of its midwife-led units to showcase collaborative maternity care practices.
Hyderabad: Fernandez Hospital marked the International Day of the Midwife with a series of on-ground and digital initiatives celebrating the role of midwives in maternal healthcare under the theme “This Is How We Care.”
The two-day programme, held across the hospital’s facilities on May 4 and 5, highlighted Fernandez Hospital’s collaborative care model where obstetricians and midwives work together alongside allied specialists to deliver woman-centred maternity care.
As part of the celebrations, dedicated Midwife Stations were established to help families better understand the role of professional midwives in childbirth and maternal care. Visitors participated in interactive games, guided tours of midwife-led birthing rooms and educational sessions focused on informed childbirth choices.
The hospital also launched a digital storytelling campaign featuring doctors, midwives and mothers, along with virtual tours of its midwife-led units to showcase collaborative maternity care practices.
According to the hospital, its Midwife-Led Unit (MLU) established in 2019 at Bogulkunta has cared for 2,262 women through the collaborative care pathway. The hospital reported a 94% vaginal birth rate, including spontaneous and assisted births, while the caesarean section rate within the MLU pathway stood at only 6%.
The hospital said these outcomes demonstrate how structured midwifery-led care can improve birth experiences while reducing unnecessary medical interventions without compromising clinical safety.
Through the Fernandez Foundation, the institution has been actively involved in strengthening professional midwifery in India since launching a pilot initiative in 2011. The foundation has collaborated with the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to support training, advocacy and integration of midwifery into public healthcare systems.
The Foundation’s education programmes, including Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery (NPM) and Nurse Practitioner Midwifery Educator (NPME) pathways, are aimed at developing advanced maternal and newborn healthcare professionals.
To date, Fernandez has trained more than 81 midwifery educators from several states and 353 professional midwives from Telangana, many of whom are now serving in hospitals and public healthcare settings.
Evita Fernandez, chairperson and managing director of Fernandez Foundation, said the hospital’s care model combines the strengths of obstetrics and midwifery to create a safe, collaborative and woman-centric healthcare system.
