Swiss Birth Stories

Send us Fan MailKaitlin's resources are below this description.Her pregnancy is “textbook” until a routine late-pregnancy check reveals high blood pressure and protein in urine, and suddenly every day feels like a decision point. We’re joined by Kaitlin, an American-Swiss mother living in Zurich, who walks us through severe preeclampsia monitoring, a surprise ICP diagnosis after relentless itching, and how quickly things can escalate when your body starts sending warning signs at 35 to 36 weeks.Kaitlin shares what labour looked like for her: blood draws, spontaneous preterm labour, low-dose misoprostol when it stalled, and an epidural experience that doesn’t go the way anyone hopes. When her lab values shift into HELLP syndrome territory and her baby shows signs of distress, the team recommends a time-sensitive C-section. Kaitlin describes the fear, the relief, and the small, grounding moments that still break through, including meeting her baby and finding calm together even in the operating room.The story keeps going after birth, because her hardest stretch is postpartum: the intensive care unit (ICU) is a part of their story. In this part of the story, we hear about magnesium drip side effects, swelling and slowed recovery, and then the whiplash of going home to the newborn feeding cycle. We also get practical and honest about breastfeeding challenges, including thrush versus vasospasm pain, and what helped her keep going. Kaitlin closes with the long view: follow-up care after preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, future pregnancy risk, and why self-advocacy matters long after discharge.Subscribe for more Swiss birth stories, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a rating and review to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.Kaitlin's Resources:Books:For early pregnancy: Expecting Better by Emily OsterFor birth preparation (highly recommend!): Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your BodyEnglish-speaking resources in Zurich that I can recommend:Barbara Ghisla Schibli, my amazing postpartum midwife - https://hebamme.ghisla.ch/enDr. med. Theodosia Charpidou, gynecologist (FMH) at SihlGynPraxis - https://www.gynaekologie-zuerich.ch/enDr. phil. Olivia Bolt, psychologist with specialisation in birth trauma - https://www.oliviabolt.chBirthlight, pre and post-natal yoga & rückbildung - https://www.birthlight.ch/en/Home.htmSupport the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes:https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailJoanna is a small business owner living in Glarus with her family. She owns Moon and June, a non-alcoholic apertif made in Switzerland. Her resources are below this description. A decade can change everything. Joanna went from a fast-paced banking career and a midwife-led hospital birth in Poland to a slow, deliberate, deeply supported home water birth in the Swiss mountains—finding a new kind of confidence along the way. Her story threads through motherhood, blended family life, and the tension between authority and intuition, showing how respectful care and continuity with midwives can reshape not only labour but the whole arc of becoming a parent again.We walk through the first birth’s quiet triumphs and the subtle harms of the “clock”—that moment when protocols override pace. Then we shift to Switzerland, where an English-speaking midwife, a birth pool, and careful postpartum planning set a different tone. When Joanna’s longtime OB condemned home birth with fear-based warnings, she didn’t debate; she re-centred. With a low-risk pregnancy, a known midwife duo, and a registered transfer plan, she turned down the noise and trusted what felt right for her body and baby.The labour unfolds like a lesson in physiology and presence: waters leaking at home, a rainy walk, a Spike Lee movie, then the unmistakable climb. Warm water, skilled hands, and a steady voice—“You’re a strong woman”—help Joanna surrender to the urge to push. One surge, and her daughter is born into the pool. Postpartum shines too: daily midwife visits, an easy latch after past struggles, food prepped, visitors paused, and a blended family gently knitting together. The episode’s heartbeat is a simple metric of success: leaving birth more confident than when you began.If you care about home birth in Switzerland, midwife-led care, respectful maternity care, older motherhood, postpartum planning, or the realities of blended families, this is the story for you. Listen, share with a friend who needs a grounded perspective on birth choices, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review to help more parents find their footing.- instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/joanna_k_perry/- website: https://www.moonandjune.ch/Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailKristina's resources are below this desriptionIf you’re craving a nuanced, practical take on birth, breastfeeding, and entrepreneurship/work- light on dogma, big on real-life problem-solving then this is the story for you. A long labour, a late epidural, and then the hardest part hits after birth: every latch feels like fire. When Kristina finally asks to stop, one midwife shames her- and another walks in with calm, options, and a plan that changes everything. That simple shift from pressure to partnership unlocks two years of breastfeeding and a new level of confidence.In this lovely episode, Kirstina takes you through her pandemic-era pregnancy in Switzerland, why she kept her bilingual daycares open for essential workers, and how trusting her care team helped her feel safe during a marathon birth (at Clinique de la Source in Lausanne). You’ll hear why she considered birth preferences with A, B, and C paths; how a silicone nipple shield, rest, and reassurance transformed feeding; and why boundaries matter in vulnerable moments. She shares the realities of returning to work on day seven postpartum, turning a lack of daycare spots into a creative weekly rhythm, and navigating a baby who refused every bottle and almost every formula. With a paediatrician’s guidance, yogurt and cup feeds bridged the daytime gap, while nights became a dance of compensating feeds and evolving sleep.We also dig into public breastfeeding in Switzerland, responding to judgement without losing yourself, and the surprising ease of weaning during a five-day trip when timing finally aligned. Kristina challenges common myths about “equal” night shifts and bottle-fed bonding, showing how attachment thrives when parents play to their strengths and stay responsive to the child in front of them. Thank you Kristina for sharing your story with us!If this conversation resonated, tap follow, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who needs supportive, shame-free birth and feeding stories. Your feedback helps more parents find us and feel less alone.Kristina's Resources:Insta: @babina970 Website: www.babinakristina.com (here you can learn all about her diverse projects and businesses)FB: Kristina Babina Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailGülkiz' resources are belowA wrong email address reshaped an entire birth story. We sat down with a scientist‑mum whose path wound from Berlin’s buzz to Zurich’s quiet trails, through months of trying to conceive, a surprise double‑line at dawn, and a chance discovery of a birth house (Geburtshaus Zollikerberg, in the Zurich, Switzerland area) that aligned with her values. What followed was a swift, deeply supported labour: hip squeezes practiced in class, affirmations in the bath at 1 a.m., a midwife’s steady calm when vomiting signalled progress, and a simple mirror that turned confusion into effective pushing. She cut the cord herself, sobbing with relief and power, then nested for two days while the team protected rest, food, and the golden hours.The fourth trimester told a different story. Low milk supply, jaundice, and weight charts pulled her into relentless pumping and anxiety until a hard pivot to combo feeding brought her baby back to comfort—and brought her back to herself. Then came a quiet miracle: a neighbour and colleague with oversupply left pumped milk in the mailbox three times a day; in return, our guest tucked snacks and fruit into hers. That small, daily exchange felt like rediscovering a village in the middle of a city, a reminder that donor milk, formula, and friendship can coexist to support a thriving baby and a steadier parent.We also wade into the tender parts most people avoid: how parental leave assumptions clash, why sleep deprivation can unravel even strong bonds, and what repair looks like when you’re still in the thick of it. Between early crawling, stop‑start workouts, and lingering illness, we talk honestly about postpartum depletion and the slow return of identity through help from her mum and the relief of adult conversation at work. If you’re curious about birth houses, hypnobirthing, partner roles in labour, donor milk, combo feeding, or simply how to build a real support system, this story delivers practical insight and hard‑won compassion.If this resonated, follow and subscribe for more Swiss birth stories of birth stories in Switzerland and expert guidance, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. We’d love to hear your thoughts—tag @SwissBirthStories or send us your story at SwissBirthStories.com.Resources: Birth House Zollikerberg, Birth House Zurich, Geburthaus Zollikerberg: https://geburtshaus-zollikerberg.ch/Lilybee prenatal course: https://www.lilybee.ch/antenatal-classes/Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailMarie's resources are available at the end of this description- including a discount for her online prenatal yoga series!What happens when careful preparation meets the unpredictable reality of childbirth? Marie, an American yoga and fitness instructor living in Switzerland, takes us on her journey from visualization to adaptation as she welcomes her daughter at Spital Lachen in Canton Schwyz.Marie's story begins with perfect timing. A five-week yoga teacher training in Bali while her Swiss husband was deployed, creating ideal conditions for her body to be "ready to receive" when they reunited. After experiencing a chemical pregnancy months earlier, Marie approached conception with intentionality, even manifesting a dream of a positive pregnancy test the very morning she discovered she was pregnant.Drawing on her decade of yoga experience, Marie navigated pregnancy by deeply listening to her body's changing needs. "Movement was still prioritized," she explains, "it just started to look really different." From first-trimester naps between teaching classes to modified third-trimester practices when pelvic pain limited her mobility, Marie embodied the balance between activity and rest. This wisdom inspired her to create "Empowered Pregnancy," a series of accessible yoga videos for expectant mothers.Though Marie had visualized a peaceful water birth, her actual delivery required quick adaptation when her baby's heart rate began dropping during contractions. The medical team discovered her umbilical cord was unusually short, necessitating a vacuum-assisted birth. "My biggest fears going into labor were having to have a C-section, getting cut, and the epidural needle," Marie shares candidly. "And I experienced two out of the three." Yet through breathing techniques learned in hypnobirthing and her husband's steady presence, she remained grounded even as plans changed.The most profound insight from Marie's journey comes from the yogic concept of "sankalpa"—a heartfelt intention stated as if already true. For months before conceiving, she affirmed "I am a mom" during meditations. "I feel like I spoke that into existence," she reflects, tears welling up. "What we truly desire desires us too... It doesn't always look the way that we think it will, but it always turns out better than we would have imagined."Marie's Resources:Follow her on social media: @swipedbyaswissEmpowered Pregnancy: A prenatal yoga series. This is the yoga series that I filmed during pregnancy and hope to help other pregnant women feel empowered in moving their bodies throughout pregnancy. 5chf off to your listeners using code SWISSBIRTH in the Twint message.Physio mentioned in the episode: Sara Polo IG @saramphysio.chMarie's birth playlists (click for spotify link): 1 and 2Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailSonja's resources are below this descriptionWhen an ultrasound technician uttered the words "his neck is sick" during a routine 12-week scan, Sonia's world tilted on its axis. What should have been a joyful glimpse at her second baby instead launched her family into a medical odyssey that would test their resilience, challenge their beliefs, and ultimately change the landscape of treatment for an incurable disease.Sonia's story isn't just about giving birth in Switzerland (she gave birth at HUG in Geneva)—it's about the extraordinary measures a mother will take when faced with a devastating diagnosis. At 22 weeks pregnant, after a high nuchal translucency measurement led to deeper genetic testing (the story to get there is incredible in it's own), Sonia learned her unborn son had cystic fibrosis. With her first child just 10 months old and no family history of CF, the news was shattering. Faced with the impossible choice between termination and continuing a pregnancy that promised hardship, Sonia did what few would have the courage to do—she questioned everything.What follows is nothing short of remarkable. Through relentless research, Sonia discovered Trikafta, an expensive, unapproved treatment that might help her son even before birth. She connected with researchers worldwide, joined tiny online support groups, and eventually sourced the medication through a CF patient halfway across the globe. Becoming only the eighth woman worldwide known to take this medication during pregnancy, she watched in awe as her son's previously invisible gallbladder appeared on ultrasound three weeks later—proof the medicine was working.Despite placenta previa, multiple hospitalizations, and an emergency C-section at 35 weeks, Seth was born fighting. Though separated from him for twelve agonizing hours after birth (prompting a fierce confrontation where she told hospital staff "I am fucking going now"), Sonia's determination never wavered. Today at 20 months old, Seth exhibits none of the devastating symptoms typically associated with CF—no digestive issues, no lung problems, and remarkably, he'll be fertile, something previously impossible for males with CF.This extraordinary journey showcases the power of maternal intuition, medical advocacy, and the courage to challenge established protocols. Through sharing her experience, Sonia has helped approximately 30 other babies worldwide access life-changing treatment. Her message is clear: trust your instincts, do your research, and never stop fighting for your child's future.Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is a rare inherited disease that affects about 1 in 3,300 newborns in Switzerland - around 1,000 people nationwide and more than 105,000 worldwide. CF makes mucus, sweat and digestive fluids thick and sticky, clogging vital organs like the lungs and pancreas.Once a childhood killer, CF is now a condition where many children born today are expected to live into their 60s. New treatments may push life expectancy even further and research continues to work towards a hopeful cure.Read more about Seth's story: https://www.instagram.com/cf_mama_on_trikafta/Have you faced a challenging diagnosis during pregnancy? We'd love to hear your story. Connect with us on Instagram @swissbirthstories or email swissbirthstories@gmail.com to share your experience.Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailSimone's resources below Simone shares her remarkable journey of giving birth to her two sons in two different countries (the Netherlands and Switzerland), revealing how cultural and systemic differences profoundly shape the birth experience beyond just the physical process.• Born and raised in Amsterdam before relocating to Switzerland with her family• First pregnancy transformed from planned birth center delivery to unexpected home birth in the Netherlands • Second pregnancy culminated in a planned home birth in Switzerland• Used hypnobirthing techniques for both births which helped manage pain• First birth required a mental shift from resistance to surrender which transformed pain perception• Second birth was quicker, more primal, and required different coping strategies• Noticed significant differences between Dutch midwife-led system and Swiss more medicalized approach• Learned to trust her body and ask questions when confronted with different medical recommendations• Found second-time motherhood more relaxed, with less need for strict schedules• Experienced postpartum care differently in each country, with different emphasis and support types• The most brilliant part of motherhood has been discovering inner strength and reconnecting with her bodyRemember that birth is your time to shine. You can do this!Simone hosts mother's circles in Uster, ZH, you can find out more information here: https://www.salonduyoga.ch/workshops/ Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network

Send us Fan MailAgata, mother of five children, shares her experiences of pregnancy and giving birth at Hirslanden Hospital in Zurich with remarkable honesty, self-awareness, and optimism.• Originally from Russia, Agata met her German husband in the UK before settling in Zurich in 2011• Always wanted a large family- had her first three children in less than three years, followed by her fourth and fifth• Learned to listen to her body during pregnancy, which helped heal her relationship with food• Experienced different labor signs with each pregnancy, contractions for most births, but her water broke with her fourth• Discovered the importance of being relaxed during labor, finding that enemas helped her mentally prepare and relax• First birth lasted about 10 hours, while subsequent births became progressively faster• Fifth birth was transformative as she learned to "give space to pain" rather than resisting it• Had water births for her fourth and fifth children, finding the experience gentler for both herself and baby• Found her unplanned fifth pregnancy reconnected her with singing and creativity• Now makes music, recording five songs while pregnant with her fifth child, more available on Spotify. She also leads a mother's group called Mama Star (information below)• Connects birth experiences to a life philosophy: when we stop resisting and allow natural processes to unfold, everything flows more smoothlyAgata's resources:Star - https://bnd.lc/j6wEwLove You Always - https://bnd.lc/loveyoualwaysOne can find links to various streaming platforms here: https://www.agatastapelfeldt.com/musicI also would like to share that I've started a community for mums-entrepreneurs - Mama Star- One can join by contacting me via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/agata_stapelfeldt/ or via my website https://www.agatastapelfeldt.com/contactCheck out Agata's music on Spotify, including "Love You Always," a beautiful song about motherhood featured at the end of this episode.Support the showPlease connect with us! See below for how to contact and interact with us:To share your story: https://www.happydayhypnobirthing.ch/swiss-birth-storiesAll episodes: https://swissbirthstories.buzzsprout.comBe a guest on the show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT5vU_CFCMszaXOLtFcy_Tz6Kf2Sp08NAbM9Hq2Tbz4mthbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101116351783345578092Our websites:www.swissbirthstories.comwww.juliathedoula.chwww.lilybee.chInstagram:@swissbirthstories@juliathedoula.ch@lilybeezurichMentioned in this episode:Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.NetworkThe SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you. Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country. Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.SwissCast Network