Joseph Fraser Hospital recently marked an important milestone in its maternity services with the successful delivery of a baby through a medically supported water birth, reaffirming its commitment to personalised care, informed maternal choice, and the highest standards of clinical safety.

Water births at Joseph Fraser Hospital are offered within a closely monitored clinical environment and conducted in strict accordance with medical protocols. Each delivery is fully supported by the hospital’s upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Blood Bank, and High Dependency Unit (HDU), ensuring immediate specialist care for both mother and newborn when required.

This delivery was overseen by Professor Hemantha Senanayake, Emeritus Professor of University of Colombo who incorporated additional safety measures, including enhanced perineal support, contributing to improved clinical outcomes while preserving a calm and empowering birthing experience for the mother.

The milestone carries special significance given the hospital’s 104-year legacy in maternity care. In a rare moment of continuity across generations, the same medical team that delivered the mother more than three decades ago also delivered her child at Joseph Fraser Hospital.

Personalisation remains central to the hospital’s maternity philosophy. Through BirthX, its dedicated pre-birthing consultation programme, clinicians work closely with expectant parents to understand their preferences and concerns. Joseph Fraser Hospital is the only hospital in Colombo to formalise a personalised birthing plan for mothers and their partners prior to admission.

Commenting on the achievement, Professor Hemantha Senanayake said that water birth offers women an empowering and deeply personal experience when supported by appropriate clinical governance. Dr. Dilrukshi Sayyakra, Head of Medical Services, added that the hospital’s approach focuses on providing informed, flexible birthing options without compromising maternal or neonatal safety.

With more than a century of experience, specialist-led services, and a fully functional enhanced NICU available around the clock, under the management of Ninewells, Joseph Fraser Hospital continues to strengthen its reputation as a trusted maternity institution that blends medical excellence with compassionate, personalised care. As a testament to its contribution to national healthcare, the hospital remains the only private hospital in Sri Lanka to be honoured with a commemorative government-issued stamp.