AP health dept to boost normal deliveries, special training for 370 gynecologists

With the number of C-section deliveries rising sharply across Andhra Pradesh, the state Health Department has launched a major initiative to promote normal childbirths in government hospitals. As part of this effort, 370 gynecologists will undergo specialised training in assisted vaginal delivery techniques, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Veerapandian said.

The six-month training programme, beginning on December 10, will be conducted in phases at centres in Guntur, Ongole, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Tirupati. Doctors will receive hands-on training in procedures such as vacuum extraction and forceps-assisted delivery - standard methods that help ensure safe vaginal births.

Officials noted that although these techniques are medically routine, their usage has declined in recent years due to the increasing preference for C-sections, lack of confidence among doctors, and limited support from families. The new training is aimed at building skills and confidence among gynecologists, especially in hospitals with fewer staff.

Experts will also train doctors in various alternative birthing positions - such as side-lying, squatting, and upright positions - which can reduce labour pain and speed up delivery.

As part of the broader push to reduce unnecessary C-sections, the government has already introduced an 18-month Professional Midwifery course for staff nurses. Currently, 172 nurses are undergoing this training. According to Veerapandian, hospitals where the first batch of 60 trained midwives are posted have already seen C-section rates drop by about 9%. Perineal cuts during childbirth have also reduced by nearly 10%.

The state’s midwifery training programme and related monitoring practices have received international recognition from the International Confederation of Midwives, headquartered in the Netherlands - an encouraging milestone for Andhra Pradesh’s maternal healthcare reforms.