The Birthing Program is founded on the belief that childbirth is not a medical or surgical procedure to be performed on a patient but a normal event in a woman's and her family's development. Consistent with WHO recommendations, the Program promotes natural childbirth to “achieve a healthy Birthing with the least possible level of intervention that is compatible with safety.” Through a structured program that includes a team of health care professionals, the Program supports and guides the expectant couple through the continuum of preconception care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and infant care. At every stage the Program emphasizes education and empowerment as key elements for a fulfilling journey through childbirth.

Preconception care
The goal of preconception care is to ensure good womens health and that woman is knowledgeable prior to pregnancy and to identify risk factors that may need special attention. Preconception care also involves counseling and treatment for couples that are having difficulty with conception.

Prenatal care
The goal of prenatal care is to improve health and wellbeing of the mother, the unborn child, and her family. To do this it addresses the emotional, psychological, biological and medical aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. It encourages the father to participate in all aspects of pregnancy and addresses any specific concerns that he may have. Through group education workshops it addresses several issues such as lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, options for pain control, benefits and risks of medical interventions such as caesarian section, preparation for breastfeeding, and caring for the infant. Throughout this period the progress of pregnancy is monitored by regular visits to an obstetrician and comprehensive medical investigations. Additional support and education is provided in one-to-one sessions with a Birthing educator and dietician.

Labor and delivery care
Labor and delivery care aims to provide a safe and satisfying birth that supports normalcy of the birth experience. It encourages inclusion of the father or others desired by the woman for providing support during labor. It provides for continuous physical and emotional support that helps reduce the need for medical intervention and improves infant outcomes. Labor and delivery take place in an aesthetically soothing birthing complex.

Newborn and post-delivery care
Newborn care emphasizes immediate contact of the infant with the mother and father to promote bonding. Parents and the newborn are treated as a unit and not separated unless absolutely necessary. All mothers are given extensive breast feeding support as recommended by the WHO's baby-friendly hospital initiative. Parents are taught infant care skills like bathing, temperature taking, caring for the umbilical cord; they are also taught to recognize the baby's signals and respond effectively to his or her need. Detailed instructions are provided about post-discharge care and return visits are planned for ongoing evaluation of the mother's and infant's health.

Schedule of visits and tests
The Birthing Program has the following schedule of visits and tests. A family can join the Program at any point during the pregnancy:

First Trimester

• 2 consultations with an obstetrician
• 1 consultation with a mother & child educator
• 1 consultation with a dietician
• 1 pelvic ultrasound
• Tests for Hb, peripheral smear, blood group, HBsAg, TORCH, urine R/M, VDRL,HIV, fasting and PP blood sugar

• 4 consultations with an obstetrician
• 1 consultation with a mother & child educator
• 1 consultation with a dietician
• 1 obstetric ultrasound
• Urine albumin and sugar at each visit
• Tests for Hb twice, glucose challenge test

• 7 consultations with an obstetrician
• 1 consultation with a mother & child educator
• 1 consultation with a dietician
• 2 ultrasounds including one doppler study
• Tests for Hb twice, urine albumin and sugar at each visit