Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Co-founder The Sanctum, Natural Birth Center, and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE)

Hyderabad

Vijaya Krishnan is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), and the co-founder of The Sanctum, Natural Birth Center, and the leading official Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) in India. She is a graduate of the Midwifery Program from National College of Midwifery, USA and is the pioneer in starting Independent, Out of Hospital Midwifery Program in India. Dr. Vijaya also has a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Education, with specialization in Womens Health, and conducts wellness programs for mothers-to-be and new moms, building upon her specialization in body mechanics, fitness, and Women’s Health.

Dr. Vijaya has been inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Certified Childbirth Educators (FACCE) in recognition of the outstanding work she is doing to bring about positive, sustainable change in birth practices in India. She is also the Chapter Leader of ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network), and runs the Healthy Mother Breastfeeding Support Network in Hyderabad. Her articles have been published in Midwifery Today, Journal Of Perinatal Education, and online in MIDIRS as well. Over the past 2 years, she has lectured widely and run workshops on Gentle Birth Practices at Universities and Medical/Nursing Colleges in India, to sensitize the key care-providers into adopting these practices widely.

At her Natural Birth Center, The Sanctum, she has pioneered a unique Collaborative Model of Care – Women receive Independent Midwife Led Care, through preconception, pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum, with back-up support and emergency infrastructure on site, in case of an emergency. Since 2009, her Birth Center has seen over 1000 births, with even higher risk women giving birth naturally. Women with one or even two previous c-sections, twins, breech babies routinely come for her care and are able to give birth naturally without any interventions. Inspired by her expert skills in Scientific Midwifery, empathy for childbearing women and her passion to bring about positive change in birth practices in India, thousands of women consider her to be a role model in Autonomous Midwifery and of Women making Impact in Society.

She believes strongly that respectful maternity care is the most important key to helping women have an informed and empowered birth. As a midwife, using gentle heart and hands, along with Evidence Based Midwifery Practices, she sees the making of a strong, confident mother, who receives her baby with love and care. She believes that through education, advocacy and practice we can bring sustainable positive change in current birth practices in India, while using the Midwifery Model of Care.

Dr Vijaya was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the world renowned Midwifery Today magazine, at their 2018 conference in Germany. This is in recognition of her pioneering work in creation of the Collaborative Model of Care at The Sanctum and for being a role model for passionate women to take up the calling of Midwifery

Dr Vijaya sits on the Board of Advisors of Birth India, a National Advocacy Organization, and would like to make sure that women have good information to make healthy choices for their entire reproductive cycle. She works hard to raise people’s awareness of birth as a beautiful experience provided women and families are given the right information, care and support.