Welcome to UTSAV

Welcome to UTSAV! 

I am Amba, a Physiotherapist, Certified Childbirth Educator (CBI-USA), Birth Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Counselor  and Certified Fitness Trainer(AFM-Chennai). I developed a keen interest in pregnancy and childbirth after I was blessed with a kid in Jan 2010. The pregnancy and birth experience I had, prompted me to do my certification in Childbirth Education from Childbirth International(CBI -USA). 


The certification enabled me to launch UTSAV to help women lead a healthy and happy life. UTSAV means Celebration in Sanskrit. UTSAV focuses on bringing healthy life to women as they are the ones who bring happiness to the whole family. 

Through UTSAV, I offer support to women during their Pregnancy and Post-pregnancy period. 

Gallery : Click here for more pictures.

UTSAV- Feedback Janani and Santhangopal

Feedback from Janani and Santhangopal

What we felt before attending the class:

First of all, one of my friend briefed me about pregnancy classes. She always said that it was very useful for her. That made me curious and I started to search online for pre-natal classes conducted nearby my area. That's when we came to know about UTSAV. I immediately explained my husband about these classes. I told him that I really liked to get engaged in such activities for a change as my mind was thrashed with cautions and worries about pregnancy. People around me gave different thoughts and suggestions that I was unable to calm myself down and be happy. We both thought that knowing about what's actually happening during pregnancy, what needs to be done, how to stay healthy and fit during pregnancy would make our mind clear. Also,  as a homemaker I personally felt the need to socialize with similar people for a bit of content and relaxation. He totally agreed with me and started looking through UTSAV website and we signed up for the September 2016 batch.

Our class experience:

I was very much excited when I was told to attend the class along with my husband. We were really impressed by the way Dr. Amba carried our first class. It was an enlightening session for myself and my husband. Gradually we came to know that we were right about our thoughts and decisions. All the questions running inside our head were so promptly answered with perfect examples and facts. We learnt quite more than what we expected. My husband who had very little idea about pregnancy learnt a lot from these sessions and he turned out to be so interested in discussing about his baby. The breathing exercises, diet, managing pain and post delivery tips (breastfeeding, baby massaging, baby wearing) were so helpful. After attending each class, every time I slept at night I felt so peaceful and relaxed. I really loved the way the topics were organised with crisp ppt slides and explanatory videos. It made us clearly understand the truth. I am so happy that now I have a wonderful support person (my husband) beside me who will understand my situation more than anyone and help me overcome discomfort if any. I feel so confident that I can handle this. Thanks a lot to Dr. Amba. 

Some parting words:

Dr. Amba's classes has brought me more closer to nature. I have now started to admire nature's gifts to us human beings. Now, I am more like waiting for this happy event to occur to me called labour. The classes have helped throw away my fear. 

Keep providing the great service.  Your guidance is a valuable gift for all expecting mothers. Thank you.

UTSAV- Testimonial Parimala and Balaji

Hi Doctor,

We were looking for a yoga sort of training around 4 months of pregnancy and found out UTSAV. Dr Amba spent half an hour over phone to explain common mindset in Indian family and what we have to do more to make the mother stronger, both physically and mentally to deliver a healthy baby.

The session one was good overview of pregnancy care. This itself satisfied us that we are in right place. Exercises are key aspects of session two and three. Dr Amba told us initially that she takes only few per batch and it was obvious when exercise classes started as she attends everyone on how they are doing and gives guidelines to do correctly.

The videos shared before classes and last session detailing labour is altogether a different perspective of how we have to look at labour. The importance of role of a  support person during labour is not just explained and Dr Amba tried her best to make us come out of fear.

To summarise, we are feeling better than before, energised to do more activities, started having more healthy foods, aiming to improve the stamina which is set as a primary goal by Dr Amba.

Thanks

Parimaladevi and Balaji

UTSAV Testimonial/ Review - Muthu and Divya

My husband and I were very fortunate to attend Dr.Amba's prenatal classes right in the beginning of our second trimester. We happened to come across Amba's classes on the Internet while we were looking out for prenatal classes online and were really impressed by her clarity in the subject in her interview with RadioOne. We immediately decided to join the classes conducted by Dr.Amba. Right from the first class about anatomy till the infant care class, it was a real great learning experience.

In the first class, Dr.Amba made us clear about the myths about pregnancy and delivery. So many people, internet and media spread the myths to an extent that we had believed they are totally true. Thank goodness Amba made us realise they are real myths and also guided us with our diet chart and the “do’s and don’ts” in pregnancy.

The exercise and relaxation class gave me more confidence. All the exercises and stretches taught in this class are very helpful. I am feeling better with issues such as lower back pain and cramps.

I had always imagined labor as seen in movies and had been very afraid. Attending this class has made me and my partner feel more confident to handle labor and we are awaiting the great experience. Amba explained the whole process in a very “easy to understand way”.Importance of breathing techniques during contractions and the importance of a support person in the labour ward dawned some new light on us. This was a real “throw away ur fear class”. We also realised how wonderful nature is and how beautifully God has designed our system and how giving birth is a very natural process.

I loved the Infant care class where Dr.Amba demonstrated baby-wearing and baby-massaging. It was very interesting and it made us more eager about welcoming our precious little gift into this world.

Thanks a lot Dr.Amba, for making us aware, more confident and making us understand the entire child-birthing process. We owe you a lot. Will surely get back to you with our baby for a selfie…. 

Please continue the great job you are doing! Loved your class loads…. 

Cheers & Best wishes,

Divya & Muthu

UTSAV- Testimonial Yamini Sathyaraj

Hi Amba

This is my feedback about your 4 days classes. We are expecting our baby on July last week 2016. Once I entered my 7th month I have all the cons of pregnancy, breathlessness, heart burn, sleeplessness everything. Btw I have already gained 10+ kg during my 7th month. And I was gaining around 800gram to 1kg every week.

I was totally confused. Because it was the same diet that I was following from my 3rd month. But after 6th month weight started increasing drastically. I started googling mainly for heartburn, breathlessness and weight gain. I found UTSAV. (I am glad I did that) . Then I called Amba, we had a conversation I was happy with that, but unfortunately there was no classes on may month, classes are available only on June month, where I would be around 32 weeks. I was bit worried about that. Amba was confident that I can still attend the class.

It's better late than never right? I am glad I did that. Joined the classes. I have changed my diet as per her class, on the same day my heartburn issue got solved. And I had a great sleep. After following the breathing techniques and exercise, my breathlessness during night also got stopped. My last problem was the weight gain, I have followed Amba diet for 10days, during the class period, after that we had our regular Dr checkup, I have lost 3kgs in 2weeks. Can you believe that?? Even I was not able to believe it, that too I was in my 33rd week during that time. Since I have already gained much my Dr was happy with my weight loss.

The labour class and after delivery class was very helpful. I have gained a lot of confidence after attending your class. Your class is highly recommended to all the pregnancy ladies. When compared to other pregnancy classes in Chennai UTSAV fee charge is very nominal.

Only one thing which I am feeling bad is I should have googled about this class and would have joined when I was in 5th month itself. I missed it. But it's fine, atleast I have joined now. And just waiting for my baby arrival. I am sure, the 4th day class will change your mind set about the labour. If you want smooth and happy pregnacy then this class is for you. Give a try, it's worth it !!!

Cheers 

Yamini Sathyaraj

UTSAV- Testimonial Sheeba Kumar

Hi Amba,

The class was very informative. I have been able to make a lot of positive changes in my diet now.

I was only thinking about the current situation and not about the post delivery things. But your info reg breast feeding and labour pain was awesome or I wouldn't have prepared my mind for those things. My mother didn't have milk for me, she breastfed my sister hardly for 1 month and my brother for 2 months. Your sessions  made to take an oath to give only breast milk as food for atleast 8 months. 

Your class encouraged and gave the confidence that i can bathe and handle my little child on my own. (I have ruled out the option of bringing person from outside to handle my child!) The beautiful thing is, i'm just eagerly waiting to see, how my child reacts if i massage it, as the video you played is registered in my mind. 

And there were many other topics that were new to me, which are very interesting.

Hope you a build natural birthing centre in chennai in future (may be within 15 years) that would help many to experience the natural birth!

Thank you Doctor! 

UTSAV- Testimonial Steffi

Hi Mam,

I'm very much happy to pen down my experience about the four day classes.

Though for me its second pregnancy, i had been unaware of so many things and your presentation was so excellent which made me to realize what all went wrong in my first pregnancy and also made us (my husband and myself) regret for the same. (really mean it!!).

This time my perceptive towards both pregnancy and labour is far better and feel more of confidence within myself that i can do it!! and its all because of your classes.

Wish to share my child-birth experience once after my delivery :)

Regards,

Steffi.

UTSAV- Testimonial Rajeshwarri Arun

Dr.Amba,

This is for you

You are really doing a wonderful and dedicated job for the motherhood community.I hope No hospital or Nursing home in chennai does your job.

Your class,  wat you taught, the knowledge you gave us helped us especially me to come out of fear and start feeling that pregnancy and Labor is a natural process , if we let the nature do it's job and keep focusing on what is essential that's enough.

About me in specific, I had my first pregnancy which lasted only for 20 weeks and from Day 1 of my last pregnancy till it lasted I was on Google search to make myself feel better, to get the knowledge, to come out of fear, to have a good sleep but nothing gave me clear vision like your class.

Now I am 7 + months with my second pregnancy and I had the same confusion Wat to do and Wat not. 

I can't believe that from Day 1 of attending your class, I sleep like a child in the nights. Having a deep sleep during pregnancy is a boon which you gave me, I must thank you for that.

The natural ways to take care of the baby,breast feeding classes, it's importance ,techniques and knowledge to handle Labour , you almost covered everything for a mother and a child during and after pregnancy.

I love your class.

You are doing a wonderful and divine job.

Love you and loved your class.

Thanks a lot for all the efforts you put in and individual attention you give for the mothers who come to you. 

Will surely recommend all the mothers to come to you to have experience the wonderful session with you.

- Rajeshwarri Arun 

UTSAV- Testimonial Sindu & Mahesh

Dear Ms. Amba,

Let me share my pre class thought and post classes experience.

Pre-class: I was in the notion that these classes will be focussed only on exercises. I never had a faintest idea that there will be so much to know about starting from importance of balanced diet to labour. 

Post Class: First I definitely have to thank you for motivating me and my husband to sit for the classes which I didn't expect myself. Taking the classes with our partners was indeed a very good experience. I never have guessed before we started the classes that he will have so much doubts related to pregnancy and childbirth. The sessions were more interactive with everyone sharing the information which they come across.

Coming to the individual sessions, First class about the diet and nutrition helped me to understand what I should avoid having and what I should have for a healthy balanced diet. Next the exercises sessions helped me in relieving the pain I already had I felt more flexible. The breast feeding sessions were so informative and I am happy that now I at least have the knowledge of were things can go possibly wrong. Finally, the labour and child birth classes, though I was worried at the beginning that I should remember all those breathing techniques and movements, later on I gained confidence that through practice I can definitely make the labour a good experience.       

Me and my husband thank you for giving us these insights and for helping us to adopt positive approach for delivering our little one to this world.

Sindu & Mahesh

UTSAV - Testimonial Ramya Shankar

Hi Amba,

We came to know about Utsav through our doctor when I was 5 months pregnant. Before going to this class we had so many questions whether pregnancy ladies can perform exercise, do's and don't during labor, how to handle a baby, etc. We also came across many per-conceived notion through our surroundings but post attending the first class many of our myths/false understanding have  been busted/corrected which gave us lot of confidence.

We found the classes to be well structured and attention to detail with very good examples. We would say that the nutrition chart was very informative and need of the hour for all pregnancy ladies.

My husband also came to know about the critical role of husband in the pregnancy which is very critical and that too in labor room and he also felt happy knowing about the full picture of the pregnancy cycle.

I would say that the exercise session and the DRT was really a blessing in disguise. I was able  to sleep well after I started practicing DRT in home. My mind was really free of stress and I had a good sleep.

The classes actually boosted our confidence levels and we look forward to witness a happy and challenging labor :)

We would like to thank Amba for the support to Women during this critical phase of pregnancy and this spreads lot of positive vibration for the full family – Wife / Husband / Kid.  

Thanks,

Ramya Shankar

India Today covers UTSAV classes

India Today Tamil Edition (16-Oct-2013) has covered about child birth classes. The article features UTSAV classes.