The Most Trusted Gynecology and Maternity Hospitals

Vol.6, Issue-1, 2019
theBirthplace
The Perfect Partner Before, During, and After Pregnancy!

Perinatal Depression
– A Less
Addressed Maternity
Condition
Aishwarya Nawandhar
Editor

he joy of having a baby, the bare happiness when you hold it for the first time in your arms, the feeling of
Thaving that tiny wrist wrapped around the finger is probably the best experience in the world. However,
carrying, delivering, and nurturing a baby can sometimes be stressful. What’s worrying is that sometimes, this
goes beyond normal stress. An intense depressed feeling during and after pregnancy is a serious mental condition
known as Perinatal Depression. The long-lasting stress, severe anxiety, and many other such symptoms indicate that
the parent needs professional attention and people, many a times, fail to recognize this. Caused by physical changes as
well as emotional complications, perinatal depression should be treated in time and with care.
While mood swings, crying, irritation, anxiety, appetite gain or loss, insomnia, sadness, overwhelming feeling, loss of
concentration mark the issues of baby blues; the long-term, intense signs that can interfere with not just the day-to-day
activities of a person, but in the care of the baby as well are related to perinatal depression. Perinatal depression is not
only experienced by the mother, but also by the father, sometimes. The symptoms in the new dads are similar to that
observed in mothers.
It is essential for a person to opt for professional care if he/she notices the signs such as depression, excessive crying,
disturbance in sleep patterns, appetite problems, fatigue, feeling hopeless, shameful, guilty, and worthless, social
withdrawal, difficulty in bonding with the child, severe anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, obsession over the
baby, agitation, agitation, hallucination, and the thoughts of harming own self or the baby. It usually occurs during the
pregnancy, after the delivery, or even a year after the child birth. Therefore, it is important to take any symptoms
noticed throughout the pregnancy period as well as after the delivery seriously. People with a family history or past
experiences about depression are more prone to develop this condition.
People usually mistake perinatal depression for baby blues and nothing can be more harmful for the existing
conditions than that. It will only prolong the problem and even worsen it. Awareness and education about the mental
health of the parent can be extremely helpful and maternity hospitals can make it a practice to inform the pregnant
couples about the same during their regular check-up sessions.
People are unaware of this issue and are sometimes even embarrassed to share the problems with their loved ones or
seek professional help. Mistaking perinatal depression for baby blues is common and can prove to be harmful for the
parent as well as the child. We, as friends and family, should be supportive and address the problem if we see any
change in the behavior of the new parents. Depression screening during and after the pregnancy, for both the parents,
is always a better idea. It aids in timely analysis and addressing of perinatal depression.

Cover Story
10
theBirthplace
The Perfect Partner Before,
During, and After Pregnancy!
Articles
18
Quick Read
Five Minute Health
Tips for Expecting Moms
20
Technovation
A Hope to Conquer
Infertility Naturally
with a 5P Coin-sized Device
30
Medical Emphasis
Preterm Babies and
the Risks Involved

CXO Standpoints
26 38
Doctor’s Insight
High Risk Pregnancy
Clinic
34
Expert Column
Sahyadri’s Gynaecology
Department- A One Stop
Solution for Women!
Intellectual Opinion
New Ground Breaking IVF
Technologies & other Art
Techniques/in vitro Fertilization(IVF)
3 decades of clinical innovation
and technological advancement
24 42
Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital
Sculpting the Future of Care
with Love and Excellence
Rainbow Hospitals
Refining Maternity and Child Care
with Commitment and Compassion

In and Around
Women’s Healthcare
Gynecological care is an important health area for a woman throughout her life span. With appropriate
professional expertise in gynecology and oncology, doctors can provide comprehensive care and help
women overcome various diseases and complications. Alongside runs parental care. Pregnancy and
childbirth are two very significant phases in any couple’s life. From preconception to pregnancy to post
delivery, adequate care needs be provided to a mother and her baby.
Focusing on this necessary sector in healthcare, in our special issue “The Most Trusted Gynecology and
Maternity Hospitals”, we have highlighted the stories of the top-notch hospitals that are providing quality
healthcare services with incredible medical expertise, world-class facilities, and latest equipment. Not only do
they render the best gynecological and parental care, but also provide compassionate and comfortable
environment and support to their patients.
Featured on the cover is a leading, Bangalore-based hospital, the Birthplace. It is a single-specialty hospital
focused on obstetrics, neonatology, and gynecology.
Apart from the gripping cover story, the edition also brings to you the stories of several other top leaders in the
industry. This list includes Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, an ISO 2001:2015 certified, NABH accredited 244-
bedded super-specialty hospital located in the Hiranandani Gardens in Powai, Mumbai, and Rainbow
Children’s Hospitals offering high standard pediatric super specialty and maternal care services.
We have also encompassed interesting articles from the industry experts viz; Anita Soni, Consultant
Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital; Chandra Sekhar C, CEO at Apollo Health
and Lifestyle Ltd.; and Dr. Supriya Puranik, Infertility IVF Specialist, Gynae Endoscopist, and High Risk
Obstetrician at Sahyadri Speciality Hospital. Along with this, there are some intriguing articles by our inhouse
editors, crafted specially for you!
So, flip through the pages and enjoy a good read!

Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal
Managing Editor Ashwini Deshpande
Executive Editor
Aishwarya Nawandhar
Art & Design Head Amol Kamble
Associate Designer Poonam Mahajan
Art & Picture Editor Rahul Kavnekar
Co- Designer Savita Pandav
Business Development Manager Nandan Deshpande
Business Development Executives Ruchi Patil
Technical Head Pratiksha Patil
Technical Specialist Amar, Aditya
Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale
SME-SMO Executives Manoj Shelge
Circulation Manager
Tanaji
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Cover Story
theBirthplace
The Perfect Partner Before, During, and After Pregnancy!

The market for obstetrics in
India is primarily served by
small nursing homes and large
multi-specialty hospitals. Given the
significance of the birth of a child in
one’s family, there is a tremendous
opportunity in creating an experience
that is memorable, joyful, and hasslefree
with the comfort of world class
clinical care for the delivery. On one
hand, the nursing homes provide a very
transactional experience with a limited
scope of services for the mother and
the child and on the other hand, large
multi-specialty hospitals provide a
daunting experience for the family in a
setting that is geared towards serving
people with complicated ailments.
The Birthplace, a leading gynecology
and maternity single-specialty hospital,
not only ensures safe but luxurious and
memorable delivery experience for a
mother. With its motto being “Expect
More”, the hospital caters to all the
needs of its patients and offers even
more! At the Birthplace, one delivers
with all the conveniences and facilities
that a woman and her family desire
during pregnancy - from on time
appointments with their doctors to 5
star amenities in their rooms.
The Birthplace offers complete care
and support from the pre-conception
period to pregnancy and delivery
period, extending up to after the child
is born. With a team of highly qualified
and expert doctors, backed with latest
equipment and best-in-class
infrastructural facilities, it provides
world-class gynecology, maternity, and
pediatric services. It has created a
phenomenal experience out of the child
birth event for the mother and the
family, backed by an uncompromising
quality in the clinical and non-clinical
infrastructure, people, and processes.
About the Birthplace
The Birthplace began its operations
around six years ago with a focus on
obstetrics, neonatology, and
gynecology. The main facility of the
hospital is 25 bedded, all in a private
and suite setting, and the outreach
clinic caters to everything that a
woman needs up until the time of
delivery. The Birthplace provides a full
range of gynecological care to meet the
needs of women of all ages. With the
help of advanced imaging, diagnostics,
and surgery services, thousands of
women turn to the Birthplace each
year, for expert care in a
compassionate setting.

In the journey so far, the Birthplace has
been recognized nationally for its
brand identity by being honored with
the Designomics grand prix award for
strategic brand identity and the
Kyoorius award for brand identity. It
has been shortlisted within the top 3 in
the country, as a trendsetter in
customer service excellence in the New
India Assurance Healthcare Achievers
Awards in 2014 by a well-renowned
media house. The hospital has also
been ranked as the #1 Hospital for
Gynecology in Hyderabad through a
study conducted by prominent media
house in March 2015 and Jan 2016 and
#2 in South India and #10 in India in
Jan 2016. In 2017, it was ranked as #1
in Hyderabad, #1 in South India, and
#2 in India for its focused specialty of
Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Differentiated Appeal
THE MOST TRUSTED
GYNECOLOGY
& MATERNITY
HOSPITALS
The Birthplace strongly believes that
the hospital’s differentiator and
competitive advantage is a result of its
focus on the “guest” experience. The
clients are treated as guests and not
patients in its facility. From the
training of its people to the design of
the processes, the Birthplace has an
intense focus on how to ensure that a
guest at its facility will have an
unmatched experience in delivering a
baby.
No wait time for appointments,
transparent delivery packages, flexible
visiting hours, dedicated pregnancy
manager, foot massages for the mom –
these are just a few things that the
Birthplace does to create a fantastic
experience for the mother!
Innovative Thinking
The Birthplace owns its technology
and this gives it a distinctive
competitive advantage. Its technology
stack proves itself in enabling superior
financial results for the Birthplace.
Every system deployed at the hospital
is focused on improving customer
experience. Its out-patient services
begin even before the patient walks in;
they begin the moment a patient
engages with its marketing effort. The
customer is assigned a Single Point of
Contact even before she walks into the
facility. Although its marketing efforts
are ruthlessly driven by numbers, the
Birthplace’s customer engagement is
extremely high touch.
Impacting Lives
The Birthplace has successfully
handled several high risk pregnancies.
Through its quality healthcare services,
the hospital has saved several lives and
made many others better. Talking of
high risk pregnancy, one of the case
was supervised by a senior
gynecologist, where there was a

growth discordancy of 48% between
twin fetuses. Under the team’s diligent
care and observation, the babies
quickly gained health and are doing
well now.
Another challenging case successfully
handled by the hospital was when the
gynecologist treated a first-time
pregnant woman with fibroid
complications in the uterus. This
complex surgery involved first
removing the large fibroid from the
uterus without harming the baby and
then bringing the baby out with a
C-section. The doctor helped the
mother successfully deliver a healthy
baby, without significant discomfort or
loss of blood.
Throughout the course of the
treatment, the gynecologists work
along with a multidisciplinary team of
urologists, surgeons, radiologists, and
other experts to ensure the most
appropriate care. To address fertility
concerns, it works with experts in
fertility treatments, at the Birthplace
and other centers of excellence.
The Birthplace’s state-of-the-art NICU
means that even parents of new-born
babies, who need critical care, can be
assured about delivering in not just a
comfortable place but also a safe place
tailored to the needs of the mother and
baby, regardless of the criticality of
care required for either of them. Caring
for tiny, fragile babies is a big part of
what the hospital does, at the Level III
NICU. Here, premature babies and
babies with complex medical needs get
the expert care they need to survive
and thrive. Additionally, they’re
surrounded and supported by a team
that is passionate, highly skilled, and
dedicated. In fact, some remarkably
tiny surviving babies, with birthweights
as low as 700 grams, have
been born at the Birthplace. They’re
healthy toddlers today, partly because
of the care they got at the Birthplace.
Whether it is about treating a woman
who had an ovarian tumor weighing
close to 5kg, to helping someone with
a renal failure to conceive, to many
successful Vaginal Births after
C-section (VBAC), or delivering
babies for mothers who have had a
history of multiple miscarriages, the
Birthplace is proud to be a place that
brings together leading maternity and
new-born care experts under one roof
to ensure safe outcomes.

Five Minute Health Tips for
Expecting Moms
18 | June 2019 |

Quick Read
-Aishwarya Nawandhar, Editor
| June 2019 | 19

A Hope to
A HOPE TO CONQUER
Conquer Infer lity Naturally
with a 5P COIN-SIZED Coin-sized DEVICE Device
INFERTILITY NATURALLY WITH A 5P
5P
COIN
20 | June 2019 |

Technovation
A few Bri sh scien sts have brought hope to numerous infer le couples
yearning to have children by developing a ny device. This device can
eliminate the need to turn to the arduous IVF treatment. The geniuses
at the University of Southampton can now help diagnose the causes of
unexplained infer lity with their device that is as small as a 5p coin. This
sensor was devised by Professor Cheong along with a bioelectronics
engineer Professor Hywel Morgan. They have established Vivoplex
Medical, a Southampton University spin-out company, where they
started developing this device. For the clinical trial of the gadget, the
start of which is due in the next few months, the research branch of
NHS- Na onal Ins tute for Health Research has provided them with of
£850,000 grant.
The tool helps in monitoring the vital elements that have a major impact on
fer lity- temperature, oxygen levels, and pH in a mother’s womb. It is to be
implanted in the uterus by a doctor or a nurse, just like a contracep ve coil is
inserted. The process of implanta on may not take more than a few minutes.
The inserted device then monitors the womb’s condi ons for about seven
days. The sensor is connected to an electronic device, say a smartphone or a
computer. The data that it gathers is wirelessly transmi ed to a small
transmi er that is worn on a piece of clothing. This transmi er, in turn,
transfers the data to the electronic device.
Myriads of couples around the globe are facing the problem of infer lity. Un l
now, fer lity doctors have had no reliable way of inves ga ng the natural
condi ons of the womb- its temperature, oxygen, and pH factors. With this
device, something as small and simple as aspirin can change the condi ons of
the uterus. “Not only could it give doctors the ability to diagnose fer lity issues
sooner – and poten ally reduce the burden that fer lity treatment brings to
our pa ents – but it also has promising poten al to inform the development of
new fer lity therapies and treatments,” says Professor Cheong.
-Aishwarya Nawandhar, Editor
| June 2019 | 21

Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital
Sculpting the Future of Care with Love and Excellence
Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital,
founded in honor of the
legend, Dr L H Hiranandani,
was commissioned on 22nd February
2004. The hospital is a 244-bedded
super-specialty hospital located at the
picturesque Hiranandani Gardens in
Powai, Mumbai. It addresses 50 +
specialties and super specialties.
Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital has
always focused on quality and
processes and hence, has been awarded
and accredited by various prestigious
organizations. It is an ISO 9001:2015
certified hospital. Its journey in quality
started from inception and got the ISO
certification in 2006. In 2007, it was
the first hospitals in Western India to
receive the prestigious NABH
accreditation. It received the IMC
Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality
Award for excellence in healthcare in
2008 and the coveted International
Working with love
and social cause at our
heart, we strive to
provide the best
possible care and
facilities to all
our patients
Asia Pacific Quality Award, famously
known as the Malcolm Baldridge
Award in the U.S., in 2009.
Hiranandani is also the proud winner
of International Asia Pacific Quality
Award, in both 2009 & 2016, and is the
only hospital from India to win this
prestigious award.
The Greatest Source of Inspiration
Dr L H Hiranandani was the
inspiration behind the edifice of the
hospital. Academically very well
qualified and seasoned with years of
experience in the healthcare sector as
an ENT surgeon, he initiated several
operative techniques which are known
as “Dr Hiranandani’s Operations”
globally. Dr. Hiranandani’s work
earned him many prestigious
accolades, like ENT Surgeon of the
Millennium Award, SAARC Award, and
many more. Social causes deeply
motivated him. His humane nature
made him stand up for the rights of
people and fight against capital
punishment and euthanasia.
In 1972, the Government of India
awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the
third highest civilian national award,
for his contribution to the nation. In
1987, he was conferred the
24 | June 2019 |

THE MOST TRUSTED
GYNECOLOGY
& MATERNITY
HOSPITALS
audiology and speech therapy center with facility for
cochlear implant; advanced cancer care and oncology
services; advanced gastroenterology and liver treatment;
women’s care from womb to tomb with a special focus on
high risk pregnancy and reproductive research; physical
rehabilitation and sports medicine; advanced eye care and
microsurgery under ophthalmology center; and executive
health check-up.
All departments are supported by the expert national and
international medical specialists and staff and all the
comprehensive services are provided under proper
supervision. Additionally, the hospital has new patient
rooms designed for maximum comfort and privacy, with an
access to a host of new amenities. In addition to the worldclass
accommodation and a warm ambience, the rooms
feature a superior nurse call system, outfitted with the best
that modern technology has to offer. The prime focus of
Hiranandani hospital is on patient safety.
Dr. Sujit Chatterjee
CEO
Dhanvantari Award, awarded for the first time in the field
of ENT, for his notable contribution to medical science.
The Cornerstone of Love and Success
Even before the inception of Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital,
everyone associated with it could see that it was a more
sublime affair than mere brick and mortar. Being a tribute to
an iconic father by his almost equally accomplished sons, it
transcended the question of honor; it became an act of love.
At the heart of the Hiranandani mission is the passionate
commitment to stay at par with global standards. The
hospital performs the simplest to the most complex surgical
procedures and is equipped with the medical equipment
purchased from the foremost vendors in the world.
Today, this multi-specialty tertiary and quaternary care
hospital is a frontline provider of comprehensive healthcare.
It has seen tremendous growth since its inception; not only
in terms of added beds but also newer service modalities.
The hospital is modernized and is in the same league with
the best hospitals in the world.
Top-notch Services
Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital offers special services in
multiple departments that are at par with the global
standards of care. These services encompass cardiovascular
and thoracic surgery; orthopedics, joint replacement, and
spine surgery; advanced ENT care with a state-of-the-art
Breakthrough Obstetrics and Gynecology Department
The department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dr L H
Hiranandani Hospital is very vibrant with latest equipment
and cutting edge technology, backed by a highly qualified
team of experts. It also has latest suites for child birth and
other high-class infrastructural facilities. The hospital has
ensured that every need of the mother and child can be met
with a warm ambience and the tender loving care. Dr L H
Hiranandani hospital offers various services in this
department, including pre-pregnancy counseling, antenatal
clinic, high-risk pregnancy clinic, post-natal care and
contraception clinic, antenatal exercise clinic, and genetic
clinic.
The Managing Team
Dr. Sujit Chatterjee, M.D., is the CEO of Dr L H
Hiranandani Hospital since its inception. He has
successfully led the Hiranandani Group to arguably the first
Public-Private partnership in healthcare with Navi Mumbai
Municipal Corporation. Dr. Chatterjee’s area of
specialization is obstetrics and gynecology and
gynec-oncology. He has served as a doctor in the armed
forces from 1976 to 1999 and was a professor of obstetrics
and gynecology at Mumbai University. For his
extraordinary contribution, he has been awarded the Chief
of Naval Staff Commendation Medal for outstanding service
rendered. Dr. Chatterjee has papers published under his
name in various scientific journals and has won awards for
the best scientific presentation.
When asked about the future plans for the Dr L H
Hiranandani Hospital, Dr. Chatterjee asserts, “We plan to
create three established centers of excellence into the
leading centers in the city and the country by year 2021.”
| June 2019 | 25

26 | June 2019 |
Dr. Anita Soni
Consultant Obstetrician
& Gynecologist
Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital

Doctor’s Insight
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Anita Soni is a practicing doctor at the well-renowned Dr. L H
Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, practicing as a full time Consultant
Obstetrician and Gynecologist. She has worked at the hospital since
its inception in 2004. Dr. Soni is an expert in the field with the
academic excellence as an MD, DNB, FCPS, DGO, and FICOG. She has
special interest in the areas of High Risk Pregnancies, Gynecological
Surgeries, Ultra Sonography, and Maternal Fetal Medicine. Today, there
are a number of national and international publications to her credit.
High Risk
Pregnancy Clinic
What is High Risk Pregnancy
(HRP)?
A high risk pregnancy is a condition
during pregnancy that threatens the
health and life of the mother and/or
fetus. A high risk pregnancy needs
special care, follow up and
management.
What are the aims of High Risk
Pregnancy Clinic?
• To provide education, surveillance
and management of pregnancies at
risk.
• To provide Multidisciplinary Team
(MDT) approach in managing the
high risk pregnancies.
• To provide advanced facilities for
managing and delivering the high
risk pregnancies.
Who falls in the category of High
Risk Pregnancy?
Pregnant women who seek
consultation at our hospital are
categorized under high risk.
Pregnancy considering the below
mentioned factors and are then
enrolled in HRP clinic:
• Past obstetric outcomes like
recurrent pregnancy loss, bad
obstetric history, previous preterm
delivery, previous still birth,
previous Down’s syndrome child
and neonatal death.
• Events occurring during the
present pregnancy like growth
restriction, tendency for premature
delivery, bleeding per vaginum
(placenta previa, abruptio
placentae, vasa previa), leaking of
liquor per vaginum (preterm
premature rupture of membranes),
utero-placental insufficiency,
oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios.
• Medical diseases complicating
pregnancy like high blood
pressure ( Chronic hypertension,
pre-eclampsia, gestational
hypertension, chronic hypertension
| June 2019 | 27

with superimposed pre-eclampsia), diabetes (Gestational
diabetes mellitus, overt diabetes mellitus),
hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, liver
disorders, kidney diseases, anaemia, obesity,
thrombophilias, systemic lupus erythematosus, other
collagen vascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis etc.
• Infections during pregnancy like Toxoplasmosis,
Rubella, CMV, Herpes, Chicken pox, Tuberculosis,
HIV.
• Surgical disorders complicating pregnancy like
fibroid uterus, previous history of myomectomy,
previous classical caesarean section, ovarian cyst, renal
and ureteric calculi, recent bariatric surgery etc.
• Extremes of age like elderly gravida and adolescent
pregnancy.
• Multifetal gestations like Twins, Triplets or
Quadruplets with or without associated complications.
• Special situations like pregnancy after renal transplant.
What are the Advantages of High Risk Pregnancy
Clinic?
• Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach is followed
involving the Consultant Obstetrician, HRP Clinic
Coordinator, Pediatricians, Neonatologist, Radiologist,
Fetal Medicine Consultant and other specialists like
Physician, Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, Hematologist,
Nephrologist, Rheumatologist, Gastro-enterologist etc.
according to the individual case scenario.
• All specialists under one roof consulting as a team.
• A multidisciplinary team involves a range of health
professionals working together to deliver comprehensive
patient care.
• MDT approach has come out as a way of rendering
comprehensive medical care by bringing together
professionals from a broad range of disciplines in a
coordinated and effective manner to upgrade maternal
and neonatal outcomes.
• State of the art Labour room and NICU facilities
What are the Investigations and Services offered?
• Genetic counselling
• Pre-conceptional counselling
• Prenatal screening and diagnosis with facilities which
include biochemical marker screening like double
marker, quadruple marker test; advanced ultrasound for
the detection of fetal anomalies like NT scan and a
detailed malformation scan, fetal 2D Echo whenever
required; advanced procedures like chorionic villous
sampling, selective fetal reduction, amniocentesis, fetal
blood sampling, intrauterine transfusion in cases of Rh
isoimmunisation, fetal therapy; other special
investigations like karyotype and microarray for
products of conception etc.
• Regular follow up with obstetrician in OPD.
• Extensive ante-partum and intra-partum fetal
surveillance.
• State of the art LDRP suites with hydrotherapy, Labour
Room and well equipped Operation Theatre.
• Labour analgesia by the anaesthetists.
• Blood bank facility in case of obstetric emergencies.
• NICU with advanced neonatal care managed by
neonatologist.
How do we monitor a High Risk Pregnancy?
• Monitoring includes more frequent visits to the doctor,
routine blood tests, tests to monitor the medical
problems, specific tests and procedures, several
ultrasound examinations (routine and special) and fetal
monitoring.
• These tests and investigations are designed to track the
condition of mother and fetus.
How does High Risk Pregnancy differ from normal
pregnancy?
• Frequent antenatal visits
• Close monitoring of maternal and fetal well being
• Special investigations (other than the routine ) and
management of risk factors
• Multidisciplinary Team Approach
How do we improve our maternal and fetal outcomes
in High Risk Pregnancy Clinic?
• Use of tools like Diet charts/ hand-outs for patients
• Best practice protocols-evidence based
• Improve outcomes by Standard Operating procedures,
Pathway, Multidisciplinary Team approach, Training the
students and staff adequately
• Safety checklist
• Complete documentation
• Ensure continuity of care after discharge
• Simulation programs
• Continuing Medical Education (CMEs)
• Clinical Audit is a process of quality improvement that
seeks to enhance patient care and outcomes
We have many success stories till date and wish to
continue the good work and aim to optimize our maternal
and fetal outcomes!
28 | June 2019 |

“I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.”
- Charles Dickens
30 | June 2019 |

Medical Emphasis
| June 2019 | 31

32 | June 2019 |
- Shambhavi Mhetre,Editor

New
& other
3 decades of clinical innovation and technological advancement
IVF, which is an acronym for In-Vitro Fertilization was introduced to the world in 1978 and since then
it has attracted and given hope to millions of couples aspiring to have a child. Assisted Reproductive
Technology has emerged over the years with increased success rates. Laboratory technology and
clinical practices have gone through many refinement cycles to emerge as a medical procedure that is
efficient, safe, easily accessible and relatively affordable to a larger population than what it was way back in
1978. According to available records, more than 2 million children are born till date through IVF
technology, which has the potential to widen its appeal and application with further enhancements for a
larger section of society.
Timeline of major milestones in assisted reproductive technologies.
Abbreviations: Other types of assisted reproductive technology includes GIFT - Gamete Infra-Falloplan
Transfer, HLA - Human Leukocyte Antigen, ICSI - Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, IVF - In-Virto
34 | June 2019 |

Intellectual Opinion
Chandra Sekhar C
Chief Executive Ofcer
Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd.
About the Author
Chandra Sekhar C is the Chief
Executive Ofcer of the Apollo
Health and Lifestyle Ltd. He also
has a strong academic background
with an MBA from Osmania
University, Hyderabad, India and
Advanced Management Programs
from the Indian School of Business
and the Kellogg’s School of
Management, Chicago, USA.
Seasoned with the experience of over
25 years; he has played a signicant
role in the Health Care and Health
Insurance Industries in India. He has
worked for over 18 years in the
healthcare industry and has been a
catalyst to the formation of a
Standalone Health Insurance
company in India. Other than this, he
has successfully justied various
management positions he was at in
different spheres of healthcare.
As the CEO of Apollo Health &
Lifestyle (AHLL), the retail healthcare
business of Apollo Hospitals Group,
he leads eight business units - Apollo
Clinics, Apollo Spectra, Apollo
Cradle, Apollo Diagnostics, Apollo
Sugar, Apollo White Dental, Apollo
Dialysis and Apollo Fertility.
| June 2019 | 35

Fertilization and PGD - Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.
Many women tend to postpone pregnancy to a later time
due to various reasons. For some, it is not to have children
until they achieve their career goals and for others, it is lack
of knowledge and understanding about fertility and
pregnancy coupled with stress and lifestyle issues. To many
having a child before their mid-30s is low on priority and
when they decide to have one, it’s rather too late causing
problems in natural conception. That’s when they opt for
advanced assisted reproductive techniques. Thanks to latest
advancements, couples can now fulfill their dream of
having a baby. Some of these technologies include:
Fertility preservation (Vitrification): This is the latest
technique that helps patients retain their fertility, or ability
to procreate. Patients taking treatment for Beehcet’s
disease, acute glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus
erythematous, sarcomas, lymphomas, fertileukemia’s can
also benefit from this. This latest advancement in
reproductive medicine is indubitably a boon for men and
women, as they can now hit “pause” on their biological
clock, until they are ready to start a family.
Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS): It is done to
diagnose embryos to check for structural chromosomal
abnormalities. The process can be termed as aneuploidy
(missing or additional numbers of chromosomes) screening.
Aneuploidy is a leading cause of miscarriage and
implantation failure.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD): PGD can help
diagnose single-gene disorders and chromosomal
translocations. The main aim of this technique is to detect
any possible chromosomal and/or genetic abnormalities.
Thalassemia, Myotonic Dystrophy, Fragile X, and Cystic
Fibrosis are some of the most common diseases tested. It
has played a key role in putting an end to the transmission
of a given condition to offspring and making sure that
children are born healthy.
ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis): The expression
of genes is evaluated by ERA (Endometrial Receptivity
Analysis), which is a genetic test to ascertain whether the
endometrial lining is properly developed to accept an
embryo. Some of the latest scientific technologies are used
to analyse the expression levels of 236 genes in order to
access the optimal time to place an embryo into the uterus
resulting in successful implantation and pregnancy.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
or PDGF (Platelet Derived Growth Factors) therapy can be
applied to rejuvenation of Ovaries, Endometrium and
Vagina. It is done under sedation with Anesthesia. This nonsurgical
technique done under sedation with Anesthesia is
used to inject the cells into the ovaries, Intrauterine or
Vagina.
INVOcell: Unlink the usual method of IVF where the
embryo is grown in an incubator for a few days and then
implanted in the uterus, this technology allows the sperm
and the egg to be brought together in the form of a capsule
that is inserted into the vagina for a few days of incubation
period and then the embryos are implanted in the uterus.
This method is considered more cost-effective compared to
the regular IVF procedure.
Addressing the needs of infertile men
Conventional IVF was not much successful when semen
parameters are below the reference values for morphology
(teratozoospermia), motility (asthenozoospermia), and
concentration (oligozoospermia). This leads to fewer
embryos available for transfer, leading in lower fertilization
rates. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a
single spermatozoon is microinjected into the oocyte helps
achieve fertilization rates of approximately 60%–70%.
“Simple to advanced fertility treatment options are more
numerous and varied than ever. A host of advanced assisted
reproductive technologies, as well as other support services
including fertility counseling, nutrition program provide
couples with everything they need to be successful in
building their family. At Apollo Fertility, we stay updated on
the latest advancements with infertility treatments, and
we’re able to offer the evidence based practice with the
personalized and holistic approach for all our patients”
36 | June 2019 |

SAHYADRI’S
GYNAECOLOGY DEPARTMENT
A One Stop Solution for Women!
‘ Medicine is not a book but
mind, not a business but
life.’ This is a popular
saying by Farid F. Ibrahim and it truly
describes the essence with which
patients are cared for at the Department
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at
Sahyadri Hospitals.
Started in 2004, Sahyadri Hospitals is
today the largest chain of hospitals in
Maharashtra. It is the brainchild of Dr.
Charudutt Apte, a well renowned
neurosurgeon and an ardent
practitioner of ethical medical
practices. It was his philosophy to
make quality healthcare available,
accessible, & accountable to all.
Currently, Sahyadri group has 8
Hospitals with more than 900 beds and
200 ICU beds. It has more than 2000
clinicians along with 2600 supporting
staff. With such reach, Sahyadri
Hospitals has been successful in
making a difference in the lives of
more than 50 lakh people by providing
quality care.
In today’s times, lifestyle changes have
brought with itself several diseases.
Bad food habits and growing stress
levels are affecting all. Women health
has become an area of serious concern
and hence advancement in Obstetrics
and Gynaecology has become very
important.
There is demand for more expertise
and availability of advance medicine in
this field to address complex health
issues seen in women. Along with
treatment, the need for counselling and
tertiary healthcare facilities has also
become the need of the hour.
Understanding this, Sahyadri Hospital
has been undertaking several initiatives
to provide holistic healthcare facilities
to women. Out of the various
specialties offered at the hospital, the
Department of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology has made its unique mark
offering state of the art diagnostic
evaluation, clinical care and education
for all women’s health needs.
The hospital has consultants
specializing in general obstetrics and
gynaecology services as well as
expertise in the area such as high-risk
pregnancy, infertility, urogynaecology,
gynaecologic cancer screening and
treatment, pelvic pain, menopause etc.
According to doctors from Sahyadri
hospital, in recent years, late
pregnancies have become a norm in
India and hence doctors have to be
handled complex high-risk pregnancies
like never before. Dr. Suprita Purnik,
Head of IVF & Gynaecology
department at Sahyadri Super Specialty
Hospital said, “As we all know there is
a problem of obesity in women and
with advance age the egg quality
deteriorates. There are chances of
having fibroid in the uterus and the
ovarian reserve goes down with age.
Understanding all these complexities
that can be involved with late
pregnancies, women need to be given
the right guidance and support. Thus,
counselling has become an integral
part of our treatment and encouraging
women to exercise, meditate, practice
yoga and eat right has become
important.”
Dr. Puranik said that Sahyadri hospital
has been able to tackle various
complex cases due to the huge
technological support that it has along
with the doctor expertise that the
hospital boasts of.
Speaking of a case, Dr. Puranik said,
“We had a case in which a 34-year-old
woman and her husband were trying to
conceive for 5 years with donor eggs
and surrogates and several rounds of
38 | June 2019 |

Expert Column
Dr. Supriya Puranik
Infertility IVF Specialist,
Gynae Endoscopist,
& High Risk Obstetrician
About the Author
Dr. Supriya Puranik, MBBS, DGO, DNB, is a renowned
Infertility IVF Specialist, Gynae Endoscopist, and High Risk
Obstetrician at Sahyadri Speciality Hospital, Pune. She is a
passionate, hardworking, ambitious, and devoted doctor available
for all those seeking the best treatment in fertility and high risk
pregnancy. With around two decades of rich experience, she has
developed the expertise in world-class IVF, operative
hysteroscopy-laparoscopy, laparoscopic hysteroscopy, and highrisk
obstetrics. Dr. Puranik has various achievements and
successful cases under her name.
| June 2019 | 39

IVF at many clinics but failed. They later approached us at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital Nagar Road and with IVF
treatment, the patient was able to conceive with her own eggs.”
Dr. Puranik said that the success of IVF at Sahyadri hospital is mainly because multiple advanced methods of fertilisation are
tried after understanding the case of the patient in a single fee. This has proven to be successful in helping couples conceive
and having a healthy baby after a healthy delivery. The hospital today boasts of an experience of over 4000 cases which has
been cost effective with handled with advanced technological help.
Dr. Puranik also spoke of Late Prathamesh Patil’s case, in which Prathamesh was diagnosed with brain tumour. “Prathamesh
Patil was in Germany at that time and preserved his semen before he began his treatment. Later he came back to India but
unfortunately succumbed to the disease. Prathamesh’s mother, Mrs. Rajshree Patil later visited Sahyadri hospital with the
preserved semen, of her son and was blessed with her two grandchildren with the help IVF. We still remember the joy that the
grandchildren brought to his mother which became possible only due to IVF.”
Taking this a step further, Sahyadri Hospital has launched a novel intervention model for a home-based pregnancy
programme-Relax Mommy, wherein services for monitoring pregnancy will be provided well within the comfort of your
home.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Puranik said, “Relax Mommy is a unique concept, which attempts to reduce the burden of
regularly visiting the hospital; and also empowers the ‘would be mother’ to access necessary health services @ Home. This
service will complement clinic visit and provide effective pregnancy care beyond clinic.”
With all such systems in place, gynaecology department in Sahyadri hospitals is catering to every complication that may
arise in women especially during pregnancy and ensures holistic care for all class of women.
40 | June 2019 |

Rainbow Hospitals
Refining Maternity and Child Care with
Commitment and Compassion
Rainbow Children’s
Hospitals is India’s leading
group of children’s hospitals
with almost two decades of
experience in offering high standard
Perinatal Care and Pediatric Super
Specialty services. It is the first
corporate children’s hospital in India.
Today, it has the occupancy of 1200
beds, with 30% of beds dedicated to
Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive
Care services, with 12 units over
Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vijayawada,
Delhi, and Chennai. Setting the
benchmark in Neonatal and Pediatric
Intensive Care, Rainbow has played
a major role in saving thousands of
We aim to provide
high standards of care
for the mother, fetus,
newborn, and children,
so that none of them
is deprived of a tertiary
care facility
critically ill children and has
emerged as one of the best children’s
hospital group in the country.
The Group has a separate maternity
wing, Birthright By Rainbow, under
the same roof, which lays the
foundation of a comprehensive
model of complete care for a mother
and her child, from conception to
childhood. Backed up by state-ofthe-art
infrastructure, it is driven by a
highly motivated team of highly
qualified and experienced
consultants, dynamic team of
residents and fellows, well trained
nurses, and paramedical staff.
42 | June 2019 |

THE MOST TRUSTED
GYNECOLOGY
& MATERNITY
HOSPITALS
The Prodigious Leader
Dr. Ramesh Kancharla, the Founder and Managing
Director of the Rainbow Group of Hospitals pursued
medicine to fulfill the dream his father had seen for him.
Having completed his MBBS and MD (Pediatrics) from
India, he went to UK for his further studies (MRCP-UK).
There he worked in institutions like Great Ormond Street
Hospital for Children & King’s College for Specialty
Services, for several years. Following his return to India,
he was hard-pressed to find a place to practice his
clinical skills due to lack of meaningful dedicated
pediatric hospitals in the country. Therefore, he, along
with some of his expert friends, started the success giant
known as Rainbow Children’s Hospitals.
Comprehensive Pediatric and Maternity Services
Journey to the Top
Dr. Ramesh Kancharla
Founder and Managing Director
th
Incepted on 14 November 1999, on the occasion of
Children’s Day, Rainbow set course towards success. Its
cornerstone was established in Hyderabad by
Dr. Ramesh Kancharla and a group of highly brilliant
doctors. Rainbow was started as a pilot project to
demonstrate the need of comprehensive maternal and
child care under one roof. Currently, it is India’s first
children’s hospital with NABH accreditation with
clinical outcomes very close to the developed countries.
Rainbow Group has always focused on patient safety,
integrity, excellence, innovation, and team work and has
created benchmarks in children’s healthcare and
perinatal services.
Although obstetrics care started at Rainbow from 2006,
this special unit came to be known as Birthright By
Rainbow in 2014. Today, the maternal care infrastructure
of birthright is perhaps the best in the country with
maternal ICU, fetal medicine, obstetrics, and
neonatology under one roof. It strongly believes in the
comprehensive maternal and child healthcare model,
which is safer and addresses the patients’ special needs.
Having set high standards in pediatric and neonatal
tertiary care, Rainbow Group has also made its mark in
maternal care services under the brand birthright,
addressing the profound effect of perinatal factors on
child birth and future health. The services it provides
includes:
• 24X7 Consultant Availability
• Advanced NICU, PICU and MICUs - Round the
clock Emergency services with full monitoring and
resuscitation capabilities
• Dedicated children’s transport services, geared to
carry long distance retrievals.
• All pediatric super specialties under one roof –
General Pediatrics, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive
Care, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Nephrology,
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Endocrinology,
Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy, Pediatric
Surgery, Pediatric Urology, Pediatric Orthopedics,
Pediatric ENT, Pediatric Metabolic Medicine, Child
Psychology, Pediatric Physiotherapy and
Rehabilitation and Pediatric Emergency.
• Comprehensive Maternal Care Set-up – Obstetrics
and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine, General Medicine,
Fertility – IVF, IUI, and more.
• Holistic Care Program – It believes that the first 1000
days, from conception to toddlerhood, are not only
| June 2019 | 43

the most joyous but also the most significant time of a
child’s as well as mother’s life. It offers a 1000 Day
program to spread awareness and assist the mothersto-be
and new mothers in every possible way to bring
up a healthy and happy child.
• Recently, Rainbow Group has also established a
dedicated pediatric cardiac care center–Rainbow
Children’s Heart Institute—that offers comprehensive
cardiac care services, including fetal cardiology.
Why Rainbow Hospitals?
Rainbow has strived to achieve excellence in the services
it provides to children requiring super specialty care in a
child-friendly environment with high medical standards,
compassion, and care. Team Birthright specializes in
providing tertiary level care to women with normal or
high-risk pregnancy. The hospital also has fetal-medicine
department to ensure that most problems in a newborn,
which can be recognized during pregnancy, are
addressed and the care can start when the child is in the
womb.
The integrated team, consisting of obstetricians, fetal
medicine specialists, and geneticists, work closely in
conjunction with neonatologists, medical sub-specialists,
and maternal intensivists to optimize maternal and fetal
outcomes. They are supported by the in-house Neonatal
team at Rainbow and round-the-clock obstetric
anesthesia and epidural facilities. A full-fledged pediatric
set-up proves, evidently, a great advantage for post-natal
care.
Additional Facilities
Birthright By Rainbow also ensures ultra-comfort for the
mother and the child with specially designed delivery
packages, including premium services for those who are
looking for luxury birthing options. Additionally,
birthright By Rainbow and Rainbow Children’s
Hospitals has infrastructure at par with the international
standards, equipped with state-of-the art technology and
equipment to treat them. To understand the nerve of its
patients, there are a bunch of internal applications in
place to track treatment progress, keep the patient
notified and up-to-date and record timely patient
feedback.
44 | June 2019 |