Dr. Gowri Motha, the world-renowned childbirth pioneer offered remote support (from more than 5,000 miles away!) via telephone to Meghan during the birth of the Duchess of Sussex’s second child withPrince Harry,Lilibet Diana, on June 4. The request from the couple came after the well-known holistic obstetrician helpeddeliver their son Archie at The Portland Hospitaltwo years ago.
Meghan Markle at The Fashion Awards in 2018.Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images
“It was very sweet of her — I am honored,” Motha tells PEOPLE from her St. John’s Wood clinic, where she practices her unique Gentle Birth Method to prepare mothers not only physically but emotionally and mentally with a series of consultations and classes.
The program, which combines the tips she learned at medical school in India with her experience as a doctor in the U.K., was put together in 1986 in order to give pregnant women the best chance of a calm and intervention-free delivery. During her 14 years working as a National Health Service obstetrician, she conducted the first documented water birth in a London NHS hospital in 1987 and was one of the pioneers in introducing reflexology for pregnancy.
“When I first started recommending reflexology in the hospital where I was working at the time, people were laughing at me — they thought I was one of those mad people,” says Motha, who has delivered “thousands” of babies over the last four decades, including those of celebrity momsGwyneth Paltrow,MadonnaandKate Moss.
“I wanted to introduce visualization techniques, to rehearse the birth in the mother’s mind and to give them confidence,” says Motha, who also includes reflexology, massage, yoga, exercise, reiki, nutrition and supplement advice in her program. She has since written thebest-selling booksThe Gentle Birth MethodandThe Gentle First Year, which both offer simple plans to help mothers bond with their child.
“I can’t deliver babies on Zoom, but I have done one or two on FaceTime and on the telephone,” she says. “I offer support — often in the build-up, a few days before the actual day. They show me their scans and they want advice from me.”
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“Second births are always easier,” says the doctor, who advocates a stay home and nurture approach to the new parenthood. “[The parents] have done it before and they are experienced and better prepared.”
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Archie.Press Association via AP
“We have a very special post-natal program, similar to what we do in India,” she says. “In India, every mother will massage their whole body every day for 40 days. You stay indoors and get nourished.”
“For the first two weeks, definitely eat vegetarian food to help your liver detoxify after the birth. Eat kedgeree, rice and mung daal, rice congee, chicken broth and light vegetables — nothing gassy like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. Butternut squash is good and asparagus, too,” explains Motha, who says she has long been a fan of an Ayurvedic diet.
Meghan Markle and Archie.The Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK
source: people.com
