The Cradle in Bangalore Really Does Deliver Joy

I have had my share of headaches when it comes to finding adequate healthcare facilities (read: not physicians necessarily, but the places where they practice) in Bangalore. After a recent midnight emergency visit to the Manipal general maternity ward, I was given a rather rude awakening about their offerings, and I realized there was no way I could deliver my baby there in August. It was dreary and filthy, and I was forced to use a disgusting shared loo without the benefit of chappals (a la Britney Spears). Let's just say my reaction was not great.

Then one Sunday afternoon in March all my prayers were answered in the form of The Cradle.

My husband's cousin had recommended this "boutique" maternity hospital in Jayanagar, but I was skeptical. I had gotten my hopes up about Manipal earlier. I mean, look ... they had have a petting zoo with bunnies in the front yard and everything. Luckily, as soon as I walked through the doors at The Cradle, all my fears left me and a massive grin remained plastered on my face throughout the tour. Yes, I said TOUR! Can you imagine staff taking time out to give you a tour of any other hospital?

The lobby is inviting and sparkling clean. There is a Barista coffee shop, a small store where you can buy cute maternity clothes and toys, couches and a TV. From there, we saw a dedicated room for prenatal yoga and exercise, and the OPD with nicely decorated and perfectly equipped exam rooms. We learned that they also offer pre- and postnatal classes (including lamaze) and counselling for postpartum depression or other issues. But the best was yet to come.

The patient rooms and the Labor/Delivery/Recovery rooms.

The Cradle offers only private rooms. They are extremely well appointed with A/C, TV, food heating/cooling unit, soothing decorations (the rooms look like something you would find in a 5-star hotel, not a hospital), and reasonable attender beds. And the bathrooms. Oh! The bathrooms ... SPOTLESS with a huge walk-in shower with multiple jets (a must for relieving labor pain), big fluffy towels and, yes people ... lovely terrycloth bathrobes. Just like a spa!

The Cradle also offers maternity suites where the attender gets his/her own room with bed AND bathroom, complete with a private entrance so as not to disturb mother and baby when they are sleeping! I, personally, am not taking advantage of the suite because I am sure both my mother and mother-in-law would accuse us of squandering the baby's college money, but that's another story.

The Labor and Delivery Room is just as amazing. It, too, looks like a 5-star hotel room with soothing, homey tones and touches (drapery, a couch, no harsh lighting). But as was demonstrated to us, when it's showtime all the necessary equipment and lighting comes out of cabinets and you suddenly have a fully functional delivery room. AMAZING!

The Cradle also has two operating rooms, a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a staff with a list of qualifications that will make your head spin. We met with the Founder and CEO Dr. Kishore Kumar. This is a man with an astounding list of qualifications (he has done Fellowships all over the world, and has now come home to India), yet he is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people I have ever met. He answered all our questions honestly and at length, despite a probably hectic schedule and made time for comforting small talk.

So suffice it to say I am more than happy. This is more than I would have even hoped for in the US. If you're expecting a baby, and you live anywhere close to Jayanagar, I would really encourage you to check this place out. It might be a bit more expensive than other hospitals, but it's well worth it. The facilities, staff and doctors will leave you feeling well taken care of.