Discover how women’s lives are transformed by providing them with respectful, empowering Midwife-led Maternity Care with in-house medical backup in case of a rare emergency. This Collaborative Model of Care has been pioneered at The Sanctum, Natural Birth Center, Hyderabad, India.

Shot at The Sanctum, Natural Birth Center, Hyderabad, showcasing Midwife-led,Collaborative Model of Care. Watch 3 couples travel different paths in their pregnancy, but have an empowered Natural Birth, under the care of Dr Vijaya Krishnan and her team of Midwives.

Can you give birth with love and not in fear?
Can birth be a safe, satisfying and empowering experience?

With millions of babies being born worldwide every year, most mothers experience birth as a medicalized event which needs to be managed, and ‘delivery’ as a process that needs to be ‘conducted’. As a result, women have begun to fear that their bodies will not work without interventions during childbirth, and Cesarean Sections are becoming routine.

What if there was an alternative? What if you could experience birth as a powerful physical, emotional, spiritual, even pleasurable event? What if you were told that you can birth in a space which feels like home, supported by people who care individually for you, and yet have the advancements of modern technology and medicine on stand-by only when needed? What if you were told that 95% of the times, your body can give birth naturally in this kind of an environment?

This is the paradigm shift that the movie explores. Set in Hyderabad, India, where the average Cesarean rate in private hospitals routinely tops 80%, this film documents the path breaking efforts of setting up an Autonomous Midwife-Led Natural Birth Center in 2007, pioneering a unique Collaborative Model of Care which incorporates Natural Birth focused Midwifery Care, and at the same time give mothers and babies access to in-house emergency infrastructure in case there is a rare emergency. It follows the journey of Dr. Vijaya Krishnan, and her path of creation of a vital holistic space, where Mothers are served end-to-end with continuity of care in pregnancy, birth and postpartum and a journey in building partnership for life. Simultaneously the movie raises public consciousness about outstanding suitability of Professional Midwifery in India under the Collaborative Model of Care, which can be easily replicated worldwide. The Sanctum is that Paradigm in action.

The movie follows three couples who have very different histories, as they navigate their labor and birth in very different manner. Through the experiences of these and other mothers at The Sanctum, the movie highlights the transformation of women into confident mothers who become aware and confident of their own strengths. Through this movie we hope many mothers recognize the immense strength their bodies posses to give birth safely, naturally, on their own, without unnecessary external interventions.