During the 19th century, Bombay's Parsi women had largely given birth at home, confined to poorly ventilated and unsanitary conditions.

[1] In 1887, obstetrician and dean of Grant Medical College, Temulji Nariman, concerned about the prevalence of puerperal fever, founded the PLIH.

[2][3] The hospital was initially located in a small house facing the ocean in the Marine Lines.

[4] Previously, during their confinement, women had been located in the darkest and dampest corners of the house on the ground floor where sewage gases could contribute to ill-health.

[8] He was the hospital's honorary secretary and chief physician at the time of the opening ceremony on 11 January 1895, and he encouraged the wealthier Parsis to allow those poorer to make use of its placements.