With close to 25 million births annually in the country, the discussion on maternal health has evolved from mere survival to building healthier generations. The Times Future of Maternity 2026 summit, held recently in New Delhi, highlighted this shift. Organized by Times Internet and Pregatips, the event drew over 250 attendees, including policymakers, clinicians, public health experts, and families, to examine how integrated, evidence-based, and equitable care can shape India's demographic future.
Setting the Context
Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, in her special address, linked maternity directly to national progress. She stated, "The future of maternity is the future of a nation and it's the future of humanity as well." Emphasizing that no country can call itself developed if its women and children are not cared for, she argued that care must begin with the mother. Lekhi also highlighted India's cultural strength of providing constant support from experienced women even in poorer households, while cautioning against turning pregnancy into a source of fear through over-medicalization.
Advancing Evidence-Driven Maternal and Newborn Care
The first clinical discussion examined why proven protocols often fail to deliver consistent results despite decades of global and national evidence. Professor (Dr) Arti Maria, Former Dean of ABVIMS and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, emphasized that mother and newborn are inseparable and called for zero separation after birth, along with greater family awareness. Professor (Dr) Jyotsna Suri, Consultant and Unit Head of Obstetric Critical Care at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, highlighted the faster-than-global decline in maternal mortality in India but stressed that postpartum hemorrhage, infections, and hypertension remain key preventable causes requiring vigilant action during the critical golden hour.
Dr Madhu Goel, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Fortis La Femme, noted that close to 50 percent of pregnancies in India are currently high-risk, making early risk stratification and preventive strategies a key game changer instead of purely therapeutic responses. Dr Tripti Sharan, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Head of High Risk Pregnancy at BLK MAX Hospital, underscored that systematic screening, monitoring, and early detection are the most impactful entry points. The panel concluded that while knowledge exists, the bigger issue remains standardizing practices and filling the execution gap across multiple settings, from high-volume public hospitals to private facilities.
Postpartum Nutrition and Recovery
A standalone session on postpartum nutrition and recovery by Saloni Arora, Nutritionist and Founder of Femly, highlighted that recovery after delivery is not optional. According to Arora, the right diet helps regain strength and nutrient stores, guided movement restores physical function, and mental health support addresses feelings of anxiety and exhaustion. When addressed together, these elements enable mothers to care for themselves and their babies more sustainably.
Strengthening Prenatal, Postnatal, Lactation, and Mental Support Systems
The panel focused on the often-neglected phase after delivery. Deepti Arora, Founder of Ever Bliss and Maternal and Family Well-Being Leader, described breastfeeding failures as system failures due to inadequate guidance rather than lack of knowledge. Dr Helai Gupta, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rosewalk Hospital, called postpartum care the most under-medicalized phase in a woman's life, pointing to overlooked aspects such as hydration, mobility, and sleep. Dr Juhi Rachel Baluja, Consultant Psychiatrist at St. Stephens Hospital, noted that 15-20 percent of mothers experience anxiety, with symptoms sometimes progressing to depression if unnoticed. Dr Rashmi Bawa, Founding Director of WellMom, focused on structured antenatal education as a high-impact yet low-cost intervention that prepares families and helps tackle anxiety. The conversation called for continuity of care, family involvement, and moving toward parent-centric support from baby-centric care.
Fireside Chat and Fertility Shift Discussion
A fireside chat with Rahul Datta, Group COO of Ankura Hospitals, stressed what true comprehensive care from pregnancy through pediatrics should entail. This was followed by an "In Conversation" session on India's fertility shift, examining declining fertility rates, delayed parenthood, rising conception challenges, and their implications for maternal health services. The speakers were Dr Rajni Mittal, Senior Gynaecologist at Hindu Rao Hospital, and Dr Urvashi Prasad, Senior Fellow at Pahle India Foundation and Former Director at NITI Aayog.
Affordable, Accessible, Accountable Maternal Care Finance
The session on reimagining maternal care finance exposed structural gaps in the ecosystem. Aviral Shrivastava, Founder and CEO of Momkidcare, highlighted that government schemes cover delivery events but not the entire care journey. Dr Vandana Prasad, Founder Secretary and Principal Technical Advisor at Public Health Resource Society, discussed realities in tribal areas such as high teenage pregnancies and maternal deaths without proper audits. Professor (Dr) Indranil Mukhopadhyay from OP Jindal Global University highlighted stagnant National Health Mission funding and wide disparities in cesarean rates largely due to insurance incentives. Professor (Dr) Sunita Reddy from JNU stressed the need to strengthen public systems that serve the majority. The panel described maternal care financing as a question of political will as much as policy design.
Masterclass on Matrescence
A masterclass by Natasha Uppal, Founder of Matrescence, reframed motherhood as a profound developmental transformation rather than just a medical event, urging both parents and providers to recognize its emotional and psychological dimensions.
Grassroots Perspectives and Hidden Impact of Grief
The panel "Maternal Healthcare Journeys: HER Stories of Strength and Hope" brought grassroots perspectives. Dr Monika Banerjee from Mobile Creches, Professor (Dr) Nemthianngai Guite from JNU, Richa S Sethi (mother to a specially-abled child and educator), and Stuti Shrivastava (mother to a one-year-old and legal professional) shared real experiences of challenges and community solutions, moderated by Dr Urvashi Prasad. A brief talk by Gurpreet Kaur Sanyal, Founder of MOMentum, addressed the hidden impact of grief on fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum health.
Evaluating Impact in Maternity Care
The final jury session featured Professor (Dr) Dinesh Kumar Yadav from ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital, Dr Madhu Goel from Fortis La Femme, Professor (Dr) Manju Puri from SGT University, and Professor (Dr) Surveen Ghumman Sindhu from MAX Group of Hospitals. The jury discussed the expansive process of picking winners for the awards, involving not only numbers but also aspects like respectful communication, family involvement, outcomes, and quality of care, even when complications occurred.
The Times Future of Maternity Awards 2026
The awards recognized excellence in the maternity ecosystem with 22 winners across 13 categories. Ankura Hospitals received Gold for Best Mother and Child Hospital for Comprehensive Care. Other notable gold winners included Ajanta Hospital and IVF Centre (Fertility and Reproductive Medicine), Saloni Arora of Femly (Nutritionist of the Year), R for Rabbit and Himalaya Wellness (Baby Care Brand), MSD for Mothers (Policy Impact), and Growgether (Innovation in Baby Gear). The summit was supported by nutrition partner Femly, supporting partners R for Rabbit and Ankura Hospitals, and exhibition partners Redcliffe Labs and Growgether.
