6 SHOCKING THINGS DOCTORS DO TO PREGNANT WOMEN IN INDIA

Social media is abuzz with news of a Venezuelan doctor who took a selfie with a womans vagina.
While this is deeply disturbing, yes, it is more damning because the woman has no choice at all. No say in
the matter. The International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics in Venezuela introduced the term obstetric
violence a few years back to talk about this form of exploitation of women. It defines this form of violence
as:
The appropriation of the body and reproductive processes of women by health personnel, which is
expressed as dehumanized treatment, an abuse of medication, and to convert the natural processes into
pathological ones, bringing with it loss of autonomy and the ability to decide freely about their bodies and
sexuality, negatively impacting the quality of life of women. [1]
Obstetric violence in India seems par for the course with very few people questioning common
birthing practices. There is a little buzz is birthing circles is how to plan a birth without violence, but
largely, we seem to be ignorant of our rights and choices. No matter who you choose, a gynaecologist
or gynaec, as they are commonly referred to in India, holds all the cards. They may or may not choose to
keep you informed about all the procedures during labour and childbirth. Dont believe me? Ask your
mother, peers, aunts and sisters how much they know about each of these things:
1. Physical exam
One of the top worries that women have during a physical by a gynaec is the pain when they insert their
hand inside the vagina. How many times do they need to check it? How do some gynaecs skip this
procedure while others insist you go through it a dozen times? A friend of mine told me that she selected a
gynaec for delivery based on the fact that the doctor was ready to skip the physical exam entirely.
I was rudely told by a medical resident, who was rough during this internal exam, that I felt pain when she
examined me because I had an infection. I did not. I insisted that some other doctor perform this exam
because it did not hurt when they were careful. Many women who are not aware they have a choice in this
matter, grind their teeth and bear it.
2. Medication to induce labour
Did you know that many a times labour is induced using Pitocin in India without even explaining what
Pitocin does and asking the pregnant woman for consent in advance? How many women do you know (ask
your grandmother, mother and aunts) who have even heard about Pitocin?
3. Labour positions
If you go to a halfway decent hospital, you are forced to give birth lying down with your legs high up in
stirrups. This leads to forceps deliveries and other issues and this practice continues as hospitals do not offer
vertical deliveries and other easy birthing options. Very few clinics in India even offer natural
birthing options.
4. C-sections
Some hospitals have introduced a policy where the cost of a c-section is only marginally higher than a
vaginal birth to dispel the notion that they are performing a c-section for money. This has come about
because of the rise in c-sections in hospitals with unscrupulous doctors performing these surgeries to make a
higher billing. There is no accounting for this practice and no way to prove whether it was needed or not.
5. Stitches, stitches and more stitches
Ever wondered how women who give birth at home before healed without an episiotomy or cuts and
stitches during a vaginal delivery? We hear of women not healing or continuing to feel because of the cut
being too wide, all the way to the anus even? No consent or anything is required at this stage from the
supine woman who is just waiting to get the whole thing over and done with. The number of stitches
sometimes depends on the skill of the doctor and you are just screwed if your doctor is bad. Research
findings by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology show that it is possible to reach a zero rate
of episiotomy with a high frequency of intact perineum, reduced need for suturing, and no adverse outcomes
such as severe perineal lacerations. [2]
6. Formula feeding
Immediately after the birth, many hospitals will feed your child formula even before you try to nurse the
baby. Even if you mention that you want to breastfeed and not use formula, more often than not you are not
even aware that the baby is taken away. The may not even allow baby crawl or skin-to-skin contact. Women

dont even write a birth plan. The baby is cleaned, fed formula, the umbilical cord is cut even when the
placenta is pulsing instead of clamping it for a few minutes. Basically, it boils down to the same lack of
choice one that you didnt have during pregnancy or labour continues even after childbirth.
Recently, a crowdsourcing initiative on twitter looked for gynaecs in India who we trust. Please
support initiatives like this or be aware of your rights because no matter how much angst you express on
your Facebook profile or tweet about vaginal selfie, your own backyard is littered with instances of obstetric
violence that only proactive action on your part can help eliminate.
If you want to vent about this or have an opinion on womens rights during pregnancy participate in
our forum.