Kalki Koechlin calls water birthing easier on her body, addresses misconceptions calling it a ‘chudail’ practice: 'It's a smoother process in general'

Kalki Koechlin has earned acclaim for portraying unique and challenging characters in films like 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. Raised amidst the quiet natural surroundings of Auroville and Kallatty near Ooty, Kalki embraced a natural approach when it came to childbirth. During her pregnancy, she opted for a water birth, a method that felt more in tune with nature. Her choice helped bring attention to this birthing technique in India. Recently, Kalki opened up about her experience and shared valuable insights on the subject.Water Birth: A Gentler ExperienceIn a recent interview with Aleena Dissects, Kalki opened up about her experience with water birth. She explained that this choice made her childbirth much easier and believes it should become the preferred method for deliveries. After thorough research, she discovered that water birth benefits both the mother and the baby, promoting a gentler recovery for women.She said, "I feel this should be the standard practice. Water birthing is much easier on the body, much easier when you are giving natural birth. There's so much research that it's easier for the baby when it comes out because it was in the amniotic fluid already, so it is not a big shock, and for the woman, in terms of recovery, it's a smoother process in general. I think it should be the protocol."Barriers to Acceptance: Misconceptions and CostWhen the host inquired about why many hesitate to opt for water birth, Kalki responded that the lack of awareness is a major factor, as most people simply don’t know much about the method. Additionally, the high cost of the procedure discourages many from considering it. However, she highlighted that the biggest challenge is the widespread misconception that water birth is some strange or superstitious practice, which prevents people from embracing it. She stated, "I don't know why people don't opt for it. I guess here it's more expensive so that's a big reason why people don't opt for it but there are places where you can do it in a hospital also. It's not like some exclusive thing. You can. But people probably are not informed enough about it. They just think it's some weird cult or something, some weird chudail practice. I don't know what they are thinking."Kalki Koechlin: Career and FamilyKalki Koechlin began her acting career with the film 'Dev D' and rose to fame with notable performances in movies such as 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani', 'That Girl in Yellow Boots', 'Gully Boy', and 'Margarita with a Straw'. On February 7, 2020, she and her partner, Guy Hershberg-an Israeli musician-welcomed their daughter, Sappho. The family currently resides together in Goa.