Alexandra: Pregnancy as an Athlete, Long Labour, Unplanned Cesarean Birth and Postpartum Recovery in Switzerland

Alexandra

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[00:00:00] Seven weeks after giving birth to her son, Alexandra sits down with us, [00:00:05] baby in her arms for most of the conversation, to share their story. [00:00:10] Alex is a footballer who moved to Bern six years ago for sport [00:00:15] and work. She takes us through her pregnancy, a long labor, and [00:00:20] an unplanned cesarean birth at Salem Spital.

[00:00:23] This conversation is [00:00:25] open and joyful and so authentic. We talk about, [00:00:30] amongst many things, what it's like to go from athlete to a body you [00:00:35] can't control, the honest realities of recovery, breastfeeding, and [00:00:40] what it really takes to find your footing as a new [00:00:45] family

[00:00:45] Christine: hello, Alex. Thank you so much for being with us and [00:00:50] telling us your story. We would love to hear just who you are, [00:00:55] who is in your family, how did you get to Switzerland, anything you'd like to [00:01:00] tell us about yourself.

[00:01:02] Alexandra: Perfect. Yeah, my name's Alex. I'm, [00:01:05] oh, uh, 33 years old now.

[00:01:07] I've been in Switzerland [00:01:10] for, six years. Um, been living in Bern the entire time. I [00:01:15] initially moved to Bern because of football, or soccer, um, and work [00:01:20] as well. So I was, you know, combining both of those, and now I've met my [00:01:25] Swiss husband, and now we have, uh, a [00:01:30] seven-week-old, , little boy named Louie

[00:01:32] Julia: Oh, wow. He's so little. You're [00:01:35] amazing for being here just to carve out some time to meet us, when everything's so [00:01:40] fresh. Thank you. We are so happy to have you [00:01:45] here. Could you tell us then about your road to pregnancy? [00:01:50] What did that look like for you guys? And yeah, like, let's tap a little bit [00:01:55] into that part of your story.

[00:01:57] Alexandra: Yeah. I- initially, actually, I never... I [00:02:00] didn't want kids. When I first met with my partner, I, I wasn't sure if I wanted kids. I think [00:02:05] I wasn't sure on the responsibility of being a mum, whether that was, was for me. [00:02:10] But, you know, when you meet the right person and then, you know, then you can start [00:02:15] to imagine a future and a life and, you know, bringing in, children [00:02:20] into the world.

[00:02:20] Um, so it kind of changed as, as we went [00:02:25] through in our relationship. So we've, we'd been together, I think, five [00:02:30] years. Um, and then I'd had s- some difficulties through [00:02:35] football injuries or soccer injuries. I had a couple of bad concussions. And I really wasn't [00:02:40] sure how pregnancy would go for me, whether I would actually be able to [00:02:45] fall pregnant because I had a lot of terrible symptoms , like I had my period for a month [00:02:50] after my concussion.

[00:02:50] So I just really wasn't sure if everything was gonna work. Um, so, [00:02:55] I was pretty upfront with my partner in saying, "I don't know if it's gonna work. I'm [00:03:00] 33. I don't know how long it's gonna take. I've heard it can take, you know, up to a year for some, [00:03:05] for some people to fall pregnant. Um, so maybe, maybe if we want to, we [00:03:10] should try."

[00:03:11] And then we were very fortunate enough that it actually happened on the first try. [00:03:15] Um, so it was, um, much more, [00:03:20] uh, accelerated than, than we had initially planned.

[00:03:24] Christine: [00:03:25] It's always a, always a surprise, those things, whether it takes a long time or you think it will, and then [00:03:30] it's right away.

[00:03:32] What are some things that you guys did in pregnancy to [00:03:35] prepare?

[00:03:36] Alexandra: I'd always lived a pretty healthy lifestyle, so I [00:03:40] didn't really think that I needed to change much, um, aside from that. Maybe, uh, [00:03:45] reducing, like, alcohol intake, but I really wasn't drinking, only socially occasions anyway.[00:03:50]

[00:03:50] Um, so we didn't actually really change too much, just started taking prenatal vitamins [00:03:55] and also, um, went to the doctor for a checkup just to, to, to see if there was anything else [00:04:00] that I needed to do. Um- Reducing the number of concussions. Yeah, [00:04:05] well, I had to stop playing football, so that did that.[00:04:10]

[00:04:10] Christine: And what about during pregnancy? How did you, how did you prepare for birth? [00:04:15] Where, how did you decide where to give birth? Yeah, that was a, a very, a [00:04:20] tough one because in Bern where I'm living, there's three hospitals within an eight-minute drive of [00:04:25] me. Um, so we had, we had three, three choices and I actually at the start I had no idea [00:04:30] that there were so many choices.

[00:04:31] Alexandra: I initially just thought, "Okay, yep, the main insel, I will [00:04:35] go there, no problems." But then my midwife, um, actually was like, "You know that there's other [00:04:40] hospitals that you could go to, right?" And I was like, "Well, nope." Had no idea. [00:04:45] Um, so in order to choose a hospital, we actually went to some information [00:04:50] sessions.

[00:04:50] And from there, uh, we chose, um, Salem Spital. , We felt [00:04:55] like English was like an accepted language there. [00:05:00] So the, in the information session they were like, "Yep, English, if you speak English, Spanish, all [00:05:05] of these other languages, you know, we'll be, we'll be fine. You'll, there'll be nurses and midwives who [00:05:10] can accommodate you, so um, you'll be perfect."

[00:05:12] And so that's, that's essentially [00:05:15] how, how we chose the S- the Salem Spital. Um, [00:05:20] as for, you know, preparing through pregnancy, um, obviously continuing to [00:05:25] take my multivitamins and the prenatal vitamins, everything that, that I needed from [00:05:30] there. Trying to stay active where possible. I was coaching at the time so I could, uh, [00:05:35] you know, keep active through, through that way and, and things like this.

[00:05:39] And then we [00:05:40] also did, um, ,, English-speaking, , birth preparation courses. So I [00:05:45] signed up for those and then we had a couple of sessions with also my partner was able to join. Um, [00:05:50] and so that was like really great that we could actually, listen to all these things in English [00:05:55] and also meet other English-speaking moms

[00:05:57] and then the other, uh, only other thing that we [00:06:00] did was- we went and did a, an [00:06:05] emergency, um, child course before, before the birth. Um, yeah. So both of us had [00:06:10] done first aid previously but never really had anything for kids, so we thought it was, um, quite [00:06:15] important that we, we learned how to do that.

[00:06:18] Julia: Yes, such a good [00:06:20] thing to do that before. I had a, a big background in first aid as well, and then I started [00:06:25] having, as a teacher before I became a mom, to do first aid on children. [00:06:30] And just going into that environment where, you know, the dummies on the floor are [00:06:35] infant-sized or child-sized, it's quite a striking experience.

[00:06:38] It's not the most pleasant but [00:06:40] man, I'm so grateful that there are actually so many providers out there [00:06:45] that, that offer this and it's, and it's so useful. And it, it comes back [00:06:50] again and again and again. Just one, like, three-hour class or whatever, however you can take is just so [00:06:55] worth it Um, I was wondering, and this might be, [00:07:00] going in a little bit of a different direction, but you, you said, like, you know, you were a [00:07:05] footballer, you were really active.

[00:07:08] Um, and then you enter [00:07:10] into pregnancy where your body is just changing in such an, an [00:07:15] enormous way, literally, but I didn't mean that, but also that [00:07:20] too. Your body is changing so much,, and you got pregnant really quickly. [00:07:25] Like, how did you navigate that experience, , as an [00:07:30] athletic, active person?

[00:07:32] Alexandra: Personally, I hated pregnancy. [00:07:35] I really did not enjoy it. Um, [00:07:40] yeah, I think all of the changes that were happening to, to my body and something that, [00:07:45] like, I couldn't really con- I... No, it's, it's, it's strange to say I couldn't really [00:07:50] control, um, because , as an athlete, you know, you're doing things and everything is, like, within your control.

[00:07:54] [00:07:55] You know you're sleeping, you know you're eating. You can also, yes, help with control of these, [00:08:00] but sometimes I just didn't sleep well because it wasn't... 'cause I was quite big in pregnancy, you know? And, [00:08:05] and that was very foreign. And, you know, all of these changes that were happening to my body, I, I like [00:08:10] to look at the metrics of my sleep data and, and my heart rate.

[00:08:13] And, like, seeing [00:08:15] all of these things change in my body and seeing sometimes I'm like, "Okay, I'm feeling really awful [00:08:20] today," but it was just so foreign, you know, from coming from [00:08:25] the athlete side. So I found pregnancy very difficult mentally, um, from that side. [00:08:30] Um, uh, yeah, so that was, that was definitely something that I [00:08:35] needed to, like, wrap, wrap my head around, and not being able to do things that I used to be able to [00:08:40] do.

[00:08:40] , I had had a little bit of warning or, like, like, experience with my [00:08:45] concussions on, on, you know, not being able to do things anymore. So I think from my [00:08:50] perspective, it was a little bit easier. If I had gone straight from being a [00:08:55] professional athlete into, you know, into the pregnancy, I think it would've been much harder for me.

[00:08:59] [00:09:00] But I've had some mental experience of accepting my body for, for what it can do at the [00:09:05] moment. Um, but it was still challenging.

[00:09:08] Julia: Yeah. Wow. So [00:09:10] understandable, and I'm so grateful for, like, the very frankness [00:09:15] with the manner in which you're saying that. Um, because it's really im- [00:09:20] important to, to share that, and to have the connection with your [00:09:25] injury. I never thought about that in the past. Um, how [00:09:30] that can then gift you some coping mechanisms in the [00:09:35] moment.

[00:09:36] Yeah?

[00:09:37] Alexandra: Definitely. And I think o- on top of this, I ... [00:09:40] Like, with normal injuries, as an athlete, you almost always will push [00:09:45] yourself kind of to recover, and- Yeah ... you've always been pushing yourself above and beyond, [00:09:50] um, in order to reach that level. But with the concussion, this, [00:09:55] this really humbled me, because as soon as I did something too much, I was in [00:10:00] bed for two weeks.

[00:10:01] You know? Mm. So for me, learning how to, like, okay, [00:10:05] really not push myself above and beyond my limits, I think that was, that was quite important for, for, for the [00:10:10] pregnancy when I was really feeling terrible.

[00:10:12] Julia: Wow. What a hard [00:10:15] lesson. What a hard way to learn that lesson- ... with a concussion. But-

[00:10:17] Alexandra: Yeah. Don't recommend

[00:10:19] Julia: Man.[00:10:20]

[00:10:20] Yeah. No. So how, how did then [00:10:25] your later pregnancy, um, go? And how [00:10:30] did the start of labor look like for you?

[00:10:33] Alexandra: Honestly, towards [00:10:35] the end of pregnancy I was still doing okay. Um, so I went to visit my doctor and [00:10:40] she was like, "Oh, you're walking very fast still." [00:10:45] Um, so that was quite good. I was- That's so...

[00:10:48] Julia: What a funny, what a funny compliment.[00:10:50]

[00:10:50] Yes, I am. Thank you. Thank you so much. That's my function now. .

[00:10:54] Alexandra: Yeah, [00:10:55] so I was like, uh, I, I actually, ... I had low iron, um, towards the end of the [00:11:00] pregnancy, and so I was very tired. Um, so I, I had to have an iron [00:11:05] infusion. And then I stopped work. Um, and then I felt- started to [00:11:10] feel better after the in- iron infusion, so I could start walking again a little bit more.

[00:11:14] [00:11:15] Um, but yeah, I was trying to keep active, and, um, I think [00:11:20] it was... I was about six, six days [00:11:25] overdue, when, um, my water broke. And so yeah, that was the, the, the start [00:11:30] of my labor. I didn't really have any signs before that. We'd gone for, I think, a two-hour [00:11:35] long walk, um, or three hours during that day, and I didn't feel, really [00:11:40] anything.

[00:11:40] We felt fine. Only halfway during the walk my partner and I were like, "Oh, [00:11:45] we're kind of, like, in the, a rural area now. Like, I would hate to, [00:11:50] to go into labor right now. We're kind of in the middle of nowhere." [00:11:55] Um, but all was good. I got home. Um, my friend was playing for the Swiss [00:12:00] national team and we were watching her on the TV, and then plop, oh, my water just [00:12:05] broke.

[00:12:06] And so, yeah, then that was the start He's [00:12:10] destined for a footballer life then, huh? Such an entrance. [00:12:15] So what happened from there? And, um, from there [00:12:20] we, we went... Uh, we called up the, the midwives at the hospital, and then they said to, [00:12:25] to, to come in. So we actually watched the rest of the game, , pretty chill.

[00:12:29] [00:12:30] And then we went into the hospital. I started having, like, very, , low-level contractions, so sort of [00:12:35] like a period cramp and, and, um, so it was really nothing. And then, , at the [00:12:40] hospital they said, "Yeah, look, you look fine. Um, now you [00:12:45] have the choice, um, whether you would want to go home, and try and sleep, or you [00:12:50] can, , stay, um, in the, the hospital."

[00:12:53] We were up in arms, um, but I [00:12:55] think it was definitely, much easier, much better, more comfortable if we went home so I could [00:13:00] try and sleep in my own bed, in my own environment. Um, also they did mention we [00:13:05] wanted to upgrade to a priva- a family room, and they said if we checked in that [00:13:10] day, we wouldn't get a family room.

[00:13:12] But if we checked in the next day, we would. 'Cause there [00:13:15] was one coming available the next day. So we were like, "Yeah, okay, let's go home."

[00:13:19] Julia: I [00:13:20] think that, um, a misconception can be that when the water breaks, it's, like, this big [00:13:25] emergency.

[00:13:25] Yeah, and, like, almost mo- I mean, most of the [00:13:30] time it's, it's not. It's just the way that labor can start. So you went [00:13:35] home?

[00:13:35] Alexandra: Yes,

[00:13:36] Julia: we went home. Uh. Cool, and you could sleep in your bed. Did you [00:13:40] get any rest that night? Do you remember?

[00:13:42] Alexandra: So when we got home from the hospital, it was around [00:13:45] about maybe 10:30, 11:00. So we went... I tried to go straight to bed, but [00:13:50] the, the contractions was, like, just a little bit uncomfortable, so that it just [00:13:55] didn't really help me to sleep at all. Um, so I think around, like, 3:00 AM I [00:14:00] ran, a warm bath, um, and that seemed to, like, slow the contractions down enough so that [00:14:05] I could, uh, sleep.

[00:14:06] So I got about four or five hours of, of sleep. [00:14:10] Um, and then I woke up, and then it's, then the, the contractions started to be a little bit [00:14:15] more painful.

[00:14:16] Christine: . And then what, what happened then? Did you wake your [00:14:20] partner? Did you try to hang out at home for a while? Um, no. W- w- yeah, we tried to hang out at [00:14:25] home. We had, we had a clock. So they were like, "Okay, after 12 hours we want you to come in, um, [00:14:30] and have another checkup." So around about 8:00 AM I think they were like, "Ooh, yeah, they're a little [00:14:35] bit more painful now."

[00:14:36] Alexandra: , But we weren't too stressed. Um and then we went in [00:14:40] back, , at 9:00., They went in and checked us, and they said everything [00:14:45] was fine. Um, they were contemplating

[00:14:47] Because my contractions were [00:14:50] between, five and eight minutes apart or so, and they were [00:14:55] very inconsistent, uh, they, they were tossing and turning on [00:15:00] whether they would let us go home again, um, and to get some more rest. Um, but I [00:15:05] actually then had quite a bad con- contraction, and that made me vomit. [00:15:10] So yeah, and then they were like, "Yeah, maybe you should [00:15:15] stay."

[00:15:15] And then, so at 9:00 we, we checked in, , and then the [00:15:20] contractions, they, they got quite painful quite [00:15:25] fast but were still very, uh, between, betw- anywhere between three and eight minutes kind [00:15:30] of. Um, so they were very, very varied, but they started to get, yeah, [00:15:35] very painful

[00:15:37] Christine: Was there anything that you were doing that [00:15:40] helped with the pain at that point?

[00:15:42] Alexandra: Yeah. So, uh, they had [00:15:45] baths, in the birthing suite, so I definitely recommend having the bath. [00:15:50] That really helped and, like, helped with the pain management. Um, also [00:15:55] having my, my partner there, um, uh, he helped me [00:16:00] focus on my breathing to get through each of the contractions. Um, that was, like, [00:16:05] very, very helpful for me.

[00:16:06] So he would breathe with me because sometimes it was really [00:16:10] difficult to, to focus on the actual breathing because you're like, "Oh my gosh, this is painful." [00:16:15] And so having him breathe with me was, like, super, super, super helpful. [00:16:20] Mm-hmm. Um, yeah. And then it got to, I think... [00:16:25] I was in the hospital for maybe... And it was, we got in at 9:00, and then it was maybe, like, 6:00 o'clock [00:16:30] or may- I, I actually have lost complete track of time.

[00:16:32] So, just ignore the times. [00:16:35] Um, but I think- Sounds about

[00:16:35] Christine: right for labor.

[00:16:38] Alexandra: Yeah. Yeah. It all swims

[00:16:39] Christine: together.

[00:16:39] Alexandra: [00:16:40] Yeah. They did a, a cervical check, and I was [00:16:45] only about .5 centimeters dilated. Um, [00:16:50] and she could feel his head, so he was pushing down. Um, and she could also [00:16:55] feel, I think, like, water, some, like, some amniotic fluid still [00:17:00] there so it kind of, like, sealed again.

[00:17:02] They asked if, um, they could [00:17:05] p- pop the, pop the, burst the, the amniotic fluid again. [00:17:10] Um, and so they did that. And then, uh, the contractions got [00:17:15] faster and more painful. Um, and then I was able to progress to about [00:17:20] y- three, three centimeters, um, dilated. Um, but [00:17:25] then that's when it all stopped.

[00:17:27] I did not progress any further from [00:17:30] my dilation of the cervix after, after that point. Um, and it just got, [00:17:35] continued to get very, very painful. I reckon a- about an 8 out of 10, [00:17:40] um, on the scale already. Um, and [00:17:45] yeah, and just, it, it was just all at the, the pain was all at the front. [00:17:50] Um, and so yeah, it wasn't very fun.

[00:17:53] I ended up, I, I actually can't [00:17:55] remember the name of the pain relief I had. Um, it's one where you can press a button, [00:18:00] and it kind of, if you feel the contraction coming, it kind of takes the, the top [00:18:05] off, um, the contractions. I would say for me [00:18:10] it didn't work 100% of the time. But then [00:18:15] it was kind of like a reminder of, "Oh, yeah, okay, it's, it's not the, it's not the drugs [00:18:20] doing it.

[00:18:20] I'm still in labor. It still, it still hurts." Um, [00:18:25] yes.

[00:18:27] Julia: Uh, can you give us like a, a, [00:18:30] any, like, um, like a timescale? Oh my God, being [00:18:35] All that work, right? Like, all those hours, all those contractions, [00:18:40] and then to be told, "You're a 3, you're a 3, you're a [00:18:45] 3." Like- Yeah, so I would say- Yeah ... that they ch- they checked early [00:18:50] afternoon, maybe just after lunch they checked- Yeah

[00:18:52] Alexandra: I would say. And then that's when they pricked [00:18:55] the, the amniotic fluid and it, it burst again. And then at 6:00 [00:19:00] they checked again, I would say. Oh, and then I was still [00:19:05] not in... I was about three centimeters then, and then at 9:00, [00:19:10] um, they checked again. Or actually I r- it's crazy, [00:19:15] like, how you cannot remember it.

[00:19:16] Julia: It's totally, actually completely normal and [00:19:20] understandable.

[00:19:21] Alexandra: I very much... Otherwise no one would ever do it [00:19:25] again.

[00:19:27] And, and then what happened [00:19:30] actually was a shift, the shift handover. Um, so there was a new one. [00:19:35] I guess it was around about 9:00, 9:00 or 10:00. Um, and [00:19:40] so then this is when it actually got a little bit, a little bit chaotic. [00:19:45] Um, and it's nothing against the midwife, it's... I think it was her personality. Um, [00:19:50] and compared to the, the previous midwife, who was very chill and very, like, [00:19:55] um, you know, just letting things go.

[00:19:56] But then the, the, this new midwife was [00:20:00] all, "Go, go, go, go, go," and was like, "Yeah, look, I think something's not working, something's not [00:20:05] good because you've not progressed in, you know, three or four hours." Um, [00:20:10] and, and she looked at my... And my belly, the way that my belly was shaped, [00:20:15] and I think she could see that he was coming in at, like, uh, not [00:20:20] the normal angle that they should be progressing to come, to come down.

[00:20:24] Um, [00:20:25] and so she pretty quickly was like, "I think we should call, um, I think we [00:20:30] should call the, the, the doctor." at this point had you had any contact with [00:20:35] an obstetrician at the hospital, or was it all midwife-led up until that point?

[00:20:38] It was all [00:20:40] midwife-led up until that point, yep.

[00:20:43] Julia: Okay.

[00:20:44] Alexandra: Yep, and I was [00:20:45] really happy with this. I didn't really feel the need to have a doctor. I was just [00:20:50] progressing and, and, yeah, and was hoping that I was gonna progress a bit further. [00:20:55] Yeah.

[00:20:55] Christine: Yeah. It's so interesting how just an, a, a [00:21:00] shift like that, a shift change can just change everything. Sometimes it's a really positive, [00:21:05] fresh energy like, "Hey, we got new ideas.

[00:21:07] Let's try." And then sometimes there's just something [00:21:10] that just doesn't quite click, and it can just throw everything off.

[00:21:13] Alexandra: Yeah. I, I [00:21:15] would say that it was, like, a mixture of both of those. Like, to be honest, we're very grateful and thankful [00:21:20] in the end, you know, that- How it happened and how we were able to welcome our son [00:21:25] safely.

[00:21:25] But at the time it was just a big ch- change, and then we were a [00:21:30] little bit overwhelmed. Um, and so the, yeah, the doctor came in and did the [00:21:35] sonogram 'cause she, uh, just to check that, you know, the midwife was right and how she was, [00:21:40] um, uh, seeing that the baby was coming in. Um, and then [00:21:45] during this time she also recommended that we get an epidural, um, [00:21:50] just because of how long it's been progressing and, and you know, how much pain I'm in.

[00:21:54] , [00:21:55] Oh, that's another thing, that the midwife said. She said because of how I was [00:22:00] feeling the pain only in the front, um, she thinks that that's made [00:22:05] her think that something was also not completely right with also that together with how he [00:22:10] was, um, they were looking at my belly. . And so they recommended that we get [00:22:15] the epidural, um, just so that maybe something in my body would relax, and then he would [00:22:20] be able to turn into the right position. My epidural actually went quite great. [00:22:25] I, I didn't feel anything after that. And I... And then they were asking me, "Oh, are [00:22:30] you still having contractions?"

[00:22:31] And I was like, "I don't think so." And then they looked on the monitor [00:22:35] like, "Yeah, pretty sure you are."

[00:22:36] Julia: Hey, if you're gonna get an epidural, it sh- it darn well [00:22:40] better work, right? True. So that's... Thank goodness for that. [00:22:45] Yeah, definitely. Definitely. And so then we [00:22:50] waited maybe half an hour or so And then this time the doctor also came in with the midwife. [00:22:55] Um, and then they, they said, "Look, um, you [00:23:00] have two options.

[00:23:01] Alexandra: You can opt for a cesarean section now, [00:23:05] or you can continue to, like, wait and, and, and see if something happens, and then you [00:23:10] c- keep continuing to dilate. Um, based on our [00:23:15] experience, we, we don't think so. We don't think it will progress any further. , But [00:23:20] this is, completely your decision.

[00:23:21] Um, we will give you five, 10 minutes to [00:23:25] discuss between yourselves, and then, um, and then we will come back, and [00:23:30] then we can see where you're at from that."

[00:23:33] Julia: How were you feeling when you [00:23:35] got that news? Five to 10 minutes, by the way, is not a lot of time.

[00:23:39] Alexandra: It was [00:23:40] definitely longer in the end. We were kind of- ... finished talking for quite some [00:23:45] time.

[00:23:45] Julia: How were you guys feeling at that time?

[00:23:48] Alexandra: Um, at that time w- [00:23:50] we actually were just thinking, "Oh, look, we've, we've done this for so long. We can [00:23:55] just, we can just continue to go."

[00:23:57] You know, I've had the epidural now, like, , I [00:24:00] feel that I can continue. Then we just thought, okay. I was like, "Look, we just have a couple of [00:24:05] questions." And so yeah, so when they came back in, we just asked, "Okay, what's the difference between [00:24:10] the C-section now versus later?" And she said, "Look, now is essentially like a planned [00:24:15] cesarean. Um, everything's calm. He's not under, very much [00:24:20] stress. And then later on there is a chance that it becomes then an [00:24:25] emergency C-section if he's then stressed."

[00:24:27] Because his, his head was pushing down for quite, for [00:24:30] quite a while. So, um, yeah. And so that was, that [00:24:35] was where it w- where it was at. Um, and also, you know, definitely, like, the partner could be [00:24:40] in the room for the, the cesarean if we got it now, and then emergency you don't [00:24:45] know how fast it needs to progress, and maybe the partner can't be in the room.

[00:24:49] Um, [00:24:50] yeah, so then we were pretty much... We were pretty clear in our decision [00:24:55] then that, okay, let's do the cesarean.

[00:24:58] Christine: , That feels like a really difficult [00:25:00] decision because you'd kind of come to your own decision, and then based on that one question, it flipped. [00:25:05] Did you need some time or take some time to kind of transition into that you were [00:25:10] ready? We, we were absolutely ready, um, at that point. I think [00:25:15] knowing the fact that later on could put stress, um, [00:25:20] in the situation.

[00:25:21] Alexandra: Mm-hmm. Um, and perhaps also my partner can't be in the room, [00:25:25] and for me, it was super important that, you know, one, that he's here safely. And if... And, [00:25:30] and, a- as much as, like, in my birth plan it was that I wanted to have a [00:25:35] vaginal birth, um, I'd always wrote, "If needs to be, um, [00:25:40] it, a cesarean is also fine." And I'd also mentally prepared myself for this.

[00:25:44] [00:25:45] And so I think that that made it easier to, to flip in this decision. Um, [00:25:50] yeah, so it was, it was... As soon as they said, "Yeah, okay, it could be [00:25:55] emergency and it could, you know, he could be stressed," then easy, easy decision. Yeah. [00:26:00] Yeah. And then what did that look... That went pretty quickly then from there. Very [00:26:05] quickly.

[00:26:05] So, , yeah, then they were like, "Yeah, look, we'll bring your partner down.

[00:26:08] He can dress, and [00:26:10] then we bring you in. Um, because you've already had the epidural, the, the pain [00:26:15] relief will be super simple. They just need to switch it out in the catheter." Um, and then, [00:26:20] yeah, bring me d- they brought me down. Everything was okay. Um, the, the only [00:26:25] one thing that, that panicked, freaked me out a little bit was, um, I didn't actually realize...

[00:26:29] And they [00:26:30] did apologize afterwards for this. But, on the bed, they rotated it [00:26:35] a little bit to the s- to the, to the left on, on a horizontal angle so you're not [00:26:40] completely on... I think there's, like, a vein at the back which, um, which they don't want you to be, uh, like, complete, [00:26:45] the baby to be sitting on.

[00:26:46] But I wasn't sure at that point whether it was, like, [00:26:50] because of the drugs or because the bed was moving. And I was like, [00:26:55] "Is the bed moving, or is it me?" And they were like, "Oh, oh, sorry, we forgot to tell you [00:27:00] the bed's moving."

[00:27:04] I can [00:27:05] laugh now, but it was a bit scary at the time.

[00:27:07] Christine: When you already don't know what all is [00:27:10] going on, and then suddenly you're feeling a little uneasy. [00:27:15]

[00:27:15] Alexandra: Yeah.

[00:27:16] Christine: And then the cesarean itself, your partner could [00:27:20] be with you. Yeah,

[00:27:22] Alexandra: yeah. He was there. Um, [00:27:25] we, we opted for the, the window, um, so that when he was [00:27:30] born that, that we could see him being born.

[00:27:32] Um, so that was, like, pretty, pretty [00:27:35] special at the moment that he, he was born. All three of us were crying. Yeah. [00:27:40] And it was, yeah, pretty beautiful to have, you know... Yeah, I get emotional just thinking about it now. [00:27:45] Um, but yeah, all three of us there crying and, yeah, that was, that was [00:27:50] pretty special.

[00:27:51] And then pretty fast they were able to put him on my chest, , [00:27:55] which was really great. However, I felt at the time, [00:28:00] uh, I, I, I don't know if it was just the, the drugs, but I was shaking a little bit and I just felt [00:28:05] that after a while that I was worried that I was gonna drop him. Um, and I'm sure that I [00:28:10] wouldn't have in the end, but there was just this, this fear.

[00:28:13] And so then, [00:28:15] Stefan, my partner, was able to do, some skin-to-skin, after that. [00:28:20] Yes.

[00:28:21] Julia: Gosh, that's really special, and it's, it's really remarkable. It's not that long ago [00:28:25] that, you know, like, the window, , that was not something you could say at the last [00:28:30] minute.

[00:28:30] Even having that offered to you, like, that's, that's pretty new. And, like, [00:28:35] obviously partners in the room, and having the skin-to-skin straight away, there's just [00:28:40] respect for the process that everyone is going through, and I'm, I'm so grateful that you [00:28:45] could... It seems like you could feel that in the room.

[00:28:48] Alexandra: Definitely. Definitely. And I [00:28:50] felt, yeah, you know, uh, this is all went through with us beforehand [00:28:55] in- Mm-hmm ... um, with the doctor. So this was, like, super great that she went through all of the options. [00:29:00] Um, yeah. And she also... Uh, one thing I forgot to, to, to note is that she really, like, [00:29:05] at the time she was really like, "Uh, I, I understand that you really wanted [00:29:10] the, the vaginal birth, um, and so we know that this can be really disappointing."

[00:29:13] And she was really, [00:29:15] acknowledging, what my emotions could be in that moment. Um, [00:29:20] so I think that was, that was really fantastic , from her to ac- acknowledge that, you know, it's, like, [00:29:25] completely normal if I'm feeling disappointed at this time. Um, yeah. [00:29:30] So I think that that was pretty good.

[00:29:33] But one thing, I mean, she did tell [00:29:35] me what to expect at the, in the cesarean section, the C-section, but there's one [00:29:40] thing being told it, and then there's another thing experiencing it. [00:29:45] And because you can't feel pain, it's all just, like, pushing and pulling and [00:29:50] that was, that was- ... that was an experience. I th- I remember talking to my [00:29:55] partner in the cesarean and we'll be like, "What is this?"

[00:29:58] Because they pull your [00:30:00] muscles apart, they don't cut it anymore, which I think is, is quite, is quite good if it, if [00:30:05] it has, you know, benefits for healing. But that was pretty... It was one, two, three, [00:30:10] pull. And then, and then you could, all you could feel is the pressure at the, at [00:30:15] the table wiggling.

[00:30:15] So it was quite a lot.

[00:30:18] Christine: Especially knowing [00:30:20] what's going on, but not feeling it completely.

[00:30:23] Alexandra: Yeah. [00:30:25]

[00:30:25] Julia: Well, and being very happy you're not feeling it completely, but still kind of [00:30:30] knowing, yeah, knowing, Christina. Like, like, you know, oh, [00:30:35] this is, that must be what they're doing right now. They are separating my abdominal [00:30:40] muscles.

[00:30:42] That's a lot. That's a trip.

[00:30:44] Alexandra: [00:30:45] Yeah, it was a trip. Yeah.

[00:30:46] Julia: Yeah. Yeah. And, how did your partner feel during this? [00:30:50]

[00:30:50] Alexandra: Um, yeah, he was, like, pretty, like, shocked. He- Aw ... 'cause, [00:30:55] 'cause there was, like, the window. He could kind of see a little bit through it. [00:31:00] Mm-hmm. And he was like, "I actually, like, I was like, I had to just, I just couldn't look at the end.

[00:31:04] I saw [00:31:05] parts, but I couldn't, I couldn't look at the end 'cause it was just..." Yeah. And he was also pretty shocked [00:31:10] by all the movements of the table.

[00:31:12] Julia: Yeah. Very fair for him to be like, "And maybe that was [00:31:15] enough."

[00:31:16] Alexandra: Yeah.

[00:31:17] Julia: Yeah.

[00:31:18] Christine: But they didn't have the [00:31:20] see-through curtain the whole time, did they?

[00:31:22] Alexandra: No, no, no, no. Yeah. No, no, no. No, it w- th- th- Just, just when he was

[00:31:24] Christine: [00:31:25] emerging.

[00:31:25] Alexandra: Exactly. They just did, like, a, a countdown, three, two, one, window, and then it [00:31:30] dropped, and then boom, he w- there he was.

[00:31:34] Yeah. [00:31:35]

[00:31:35] Christine: Wow. Big reveal.

[00:31:37] Alexandra: Yes.

[00:31:39] Christine: And then what was the [00:31:40] recovery immediately afterwards like for you when you got back to the room and- [00:31:45]

[00:31:45] Alexandra: So we went back to the, the labor room, [00:31:50] and then, um, and then they, they put him [00:31:55] back on my chest pretty fast again, um, after that and tried to latch, latch him [00:32:00] onto my breast to, to get the first, you know, the oxytocin going.

[00:32:04] And so that, that [00:32:05] was pretty, that was pretty special. And then, then my partner got to do some more proper [00:32:10] skin-to-skin. That was also, pretty special for, for both of us to experience me watching [00:32:15] him have the skin-to-skin and also, you know, the, the first time latching. So that was, that was [00:32:20] pretty special.

[00:32:21] Um, and then, yeah, they gave him a little bit of a [00:32:25] clean, did some of the, the, the measurements. Um, and [00:32:30] then, , then they took me to , the family room after [00:32:35] that

[00:32:35] Julia: And this family room, your partner could stay with you then overnight, like the whole time? [00:32:40] Yes. So- The room was fantastic. It has a double bed. It had, like, a table with [00:32:45] four chairs. It had a sofa bed, and also enough room for my hospital bed. [00:32:50] Oh, wow. Yeah

[00:32:52] That's really cool

[00:32:53] Alexandra: It was, it was [00:32:55] fantastic. , I look back now and I just, I just do not know how I could [00:33:00] have done it with him not being able to stay there, I think.

[00:33:02] Julia: Oh, yeah.

[00:33:02] Alexandra: Yeah, I think it was very special to [00:33:05] have these, you know, first four, four days or so together, in the family [00:33:10] room.

[00:33:11] Julia: Yeah. How many nights did you have at the, at the hospital, and were you [00:33:15] happy with the amount that you got?

[00:33:17] Alexandra: It depends on if you count the first night.

[00:33:19] Julia: [00:33:20] Yes, yeah, of course.

[00:33:20] Uh, how many night, how many nights, eh, after he was [00:33:25] born, let's say?

[00:33:25] Alexandra: After he was born, three. Yeah. Yeah So the fir- the first... So four in total, but then [00:33:30] three after afterwards. And they gave us the choice if we wanted to go home or [00:33:35] not. They were like, "Do you feel like okay to go home, um, or do you feel like you need [00:33:40] to stay?"

[00:33:40] Um, and so yeah, we were then able to make the decision, and then yeah, [00:33:45] we decided to go home , on the fourth day

[00:33:47] Julia: How was your recovery? How are you feeling? [00:33:50] You had a long labor, and then you had a cesarean birth to recover [00:33:55] from as well. How, how are you doing?

[00:33:58] Alexandra: Uh, yeah, that was pretty awful at the [00:34:00] start, definitely. Yeah. I mean, yeah, trying to get up from the bed from the first time was [00:34:05] something, like, an old woman, like, , who couldn't stand up straight anymore 'cause you're just [00:34:10] completely, like, bent over because you just couldn't stand up.

[00:34:13] Um, so that was very, very [00:34:15] foreign feeling. Um, yeah, yeah, that was pretty [00:34:20] tough. Um, and yeah, going to the, the bathroom the first time was, yeah, a very [00:34:25] strange feeling. And yeah, and also, I mean,, him crying [00:34:30] or, you know, not being happy and not being able to go and pick him up, I think that was, that was [00:34:35] also , quite difficult.

[00:34:35] Luckily, my partner was there and could help, but yeah, you know, [00:34:40] something about not being able to do it yourself was also quite, quite challenging [00:34:45]

[00:34:45] Christine: Yeah, there's the, the emotional aspect of that as well as [00:34:50] the physical. And I imagine that's hard for anyone, but especially being somebody who is [00:34:55] quite, athletic and used to your body doing amazing things, and now you can [00:35:00] barely stand up.

[00:35:00] That's a big, big adjustment.

[00:35:04] Alexandra: Yeah, [00:35:05] definitely. I think one, one interesting thing that my, my midwife said, and she was like, "You know, [00:35:10] uh, if, if a, a male had a surgery this, this mu- this, this [00:35:15] big, they would be in hospital for two weeks." Which I

[00:35:19] Christine: [00:35:20] thought- For sure. For sure ... yeah. Complaining the whole time.

[00:35:21] Alexandra: Yeah.

[00:35:21] Julia: And, and when they get home, Spitex would be there. [00:35:25] Yes. Spitex would do their laundry. Spitex would m- and someone would make sure that they're being looked [00:35:30] after. And that's why Swiss Birth Stories exists, so that we can talk about [00:35:35] these things- Yeah,

[00:35:36] Alexandra: yeah ... and get it

[00:35:36] Julia: out there. Um-

[00:35:37] Alexandra: One thing that I think was [00:35:40] like...

[00:35:41] I actually forgot to give this into the feedback into the, into the [00:35:45] hospital . actually, , all of the physio that we got was like, "Okay, if you [00:35:50] want to go, there's a room where there'll be a physio." And, [00:35:55] and then there was a physio, and there was two of us in the room. The other lady had a vaginal birth, and I had a [00:36:00] cesarean birth, and it wasn't even...

[00:36:02] Yeah, it wasn't even one-to-one. Um, [00:36:05] yeah. This was pretty bad. I think I actually need to follow up, with the hospital on this one because, yeah, [00:36:10] I thought that... And also it was like, because it was the, the f- [00:36:15] the first day after giving birth, I could barely walk there, and I was probably [00:36:20] still completely overwhelmed.

[00:36:21] And it was in German, and my German's okay, [00:36:25] but in, in this moment, it, like, a lot, there was a lot going on. And [00:36:30] so then I just couldn't fully comprehend everything at that point. And so I think that that [00:36:35] was, that was pretty, pretty hard.

[00:36:38] Julia: How do you feel like your postpartum midwife [00:36:40] was able to then fill the gaps?

[00:36:41] I mean, she's, there's, they do everything. They do so [00:36:45] much. For the first two weeks obviously it was just like rest, rest, rest. Yes. And I [00:36:50] think to be honest from, that's probably what's me, what [00:36:55] I needed, from being like an athlete I think.

[00:36:57] Alexandra: It was like she knew that I'd probably wanna [00:37:00] push myself, and my partner knew that I'd probably wanna push myself. My parents were actually [00:37:05] in, in the country. Um, they were able to, to meet, um, uh, [00:37:10] in the hospital which was pretty great, and they know who I was as a person, and they were like, "Yeah, you need [00:37:15] to rest."

[00:37:15] And so I think that that was like pretty important that she did that, so everyone was [00:37:20] all like, "You need to rest and lie down and don't do anything." Um, [00:37:25] so that was, that was pretty good. And then, , Incella, um, actually has , [00:37:30] an app where there's lots of physio exercises that you can do.

[00:37:33] You can in- input, [00:37:35] um, like, um, when the birth date was and what kind of birth you [00:37:40] had, whether it was a vaginal or a cesarean, and then they can give you based on the time that you're, [00:37:45] where you are some exercises to do. And , it tells you, yeah, all of these exercises that you [00:37:50] can, that you can do.

[00:37:51] Christine: And how did things go with breastfeeding? [00:37:55]

[00:37:56] Alexandra: At the start it was definitely very difficult. One of the [00:38:00] first latches was p- quite poor, and so from my left side I had immediately like, [00:38:05] um, blood. Yeah. Yeah. It was pretty, it was pretty bad. [00:38:10] So then I had to s- they t- they recommended that I stopped, like, [00:38:15] breastfeeding right at the start and did some pumping on that side.

[00:38:19] And so that was [00:38:20] like, that was pretty hard. And on the right-hand side, I have like more of a, like a [00:38:25] flat nipple. So it was also not super pleasant, so we had to use a, a nipple [00:38:30] shield. Um, which was, which was fine in the end because at the end of the day it's what you need. , [00:38:35] But yeah, i- it was pretty mentally hard and not...

[00:38:37] Obviously, you know, you're not supposed to have your milk in straight [00:38:40] away, but it's super stressful when you know... And he was a little bit jaundiced, [00:38:45] and so when you're not feeding him, you're not able to feed him, it was [00:38:50] really emotionally, , draining and, and I was like, "Oh my God, I'm failing", you [00:38:55] know?

[00:38:55] . We were pumping and I remember my partner and I were scraping like every [00:39:00] last drop of the, the colostrum trying to feed to him. Um, [00:39:05] um, so yeah

[00:39:08] Julia: Yeah, it's like I am [00:39:10] working so hard for not e- like the half of the drop.

[00:39:13] I'm working so hard for this. [00:39:15] Um, and, uh, yeah, it's amazing [00:39:20] during this interview you're feeding your baby. So how's it gone for the last [00:39:25] few weeks? How, how has, how has it progressed or changed in that [00:39:30] time?

[00:39:31] Alexandra: Yeah, definitely it's so much better from at the start because I [00:39:35] think on the s- the second night I still wasn't producing and he was just on my, my breast the [00:39:40] entire time.

[00:39:40] So like on and off for like the entire night. It was like 3:00 o'clock in the morning and he'd be on my, [00:39:45] on my boob for like, you know, the last three hours, and I was crying because like I [00:39:50] couldn't do it. And so then the m- the, the nurses ended up by being like, "Would you like us to take him? [00:39:55] We can feed him some formula.

[00:39:56] Um, and then you can actually get some rest." So from [00:40:00] that to now I, I definitely would say that I'm probably more of an over [00:40:05] producer now. Um, and so at, so when my milk finally did come in, it [00:40:10] came, went the other way. I had like extremely, extremely [00:40:15] sore spots. So s- so I don't know what the, they're clogged ducts al- also and so [00:40:20] oh, they were extremely, extremely painful.

[00:40:23] Um, [00:40:25] um, and yeah, I had a lot of pain on that, on that [00:40:30] front and still, trying to work on the, the latch. Uh, we still had some [00:40:35] problems. So , it's definitely better, but even in the last week I've been to the lactation [00:40:40] consultant because I've had recurring milk blisters on my, on my right side, [00:40:45] um, and still a little bit of bruising on my left side.

[00:40:49] [00:40:50] Um, so yeah, it's been like quite challenging but, I'm very grateful that [00:40:55] I can definitely produce enough milk, , for him. , So I think like that's [00:41:00] definitely nice, a nice feeling to, 'cause I feel for the under producers, um, because that [00:41:05] must be so stressful. Um, but being an over producer does have its drawbacks [00:41:10] as well.

[00:41:10] There are...

[00:41:12] Christine: that's good to mention 'cause you almost feel like you can't say [00:41:15] anything because there's people who... But both have, yeah, like you say, there's [00:41:20] difficulties to [00:41:25] both.

[00:41:25] Julia: I was just gonna say it's not, like, one way of parenting [00:41:30] a newborn or feeding a newborn or being with a newborn is an easy way, [00:41:35] you know? Like, it's actually a false, dichotomy. Is that it? To [00:41:40] think, this is easy and this is hard.

[00:41:41] Like, no. [00:41:45] There are ways in which this is, this is hard, and you are in the thick of it. You are seven weeks. [00:41:50] Like, this is- De- definitely ... really fresh. They're really small, and the fact that you can even [00:41:55] sit in a chair seven weeks after your cesarean birth, feed your [00:42:00] baby- ... talk to us for the last hour, have a smile on your face, [00:42:05] that was amazing.

[00:42:06] Alexandra: Yeah, I,

[00:42:07] Julia: I- Right? Like, this is so cool.

[00:42:08] Alexandra: Yeah. I feel, [00:42:10] I, I feel very lucky we have, I would say, one would call him [00:42:15] a good baby. Um, so he-

[00:42:17] Julia: Long may that continue.

[00:42:18] Alexandra: Yes.

[00:42:19] Julia: Long may it [00:42:20] continue, please.

[00:42:21] Alexandra: Yes. I hope so, too. We're, we're getting some good amounts of [00:42:25] sleep, some up to seven hours. Um, so it's, it's, it's quite nice.

[00:42:29] [00:42:30] I mean, I do not sleep seven hours because they make so many loud [00:42:35] noises.

[00:42:36] Julia: They are just the worst roommates.

[00:42:38] Alexandra: They are.

[00:42:39] Julia: They are so- They're [00:42:40] terrible ... they're so noisy. And then, I know, but oh, they're so cute as well. So cute. So cute. [00:42:45] All those little snarfles, but no, there's no way that you're sleeping seven hours in a row.

[00:42:49] Mm-hmm. But, hey, [00:42:50] wow, that is quite exceptional.

[00:42:52] Alexandra: Mm-hmm, yes.

[00:42:54] Julia: It's- That is really exceptional. So I hope that- [00:42:55] Very, very, very good ... that continues. Long may it continue.

[00:42:56] Alexandra: I hope so, too. But it, it's, it's also, it feels, I [00:43:00] mean, it feels quite interesting because I, I have some friends who don't have as [00:43:05] easy babies, and sometimes you feel that, like, [00:43:10] you can't complain in, in- Yes

[00:43:12] like, if you're not feeling, if, if [00:43:15] there's a bad day or something like this. And I know that they wouldn't judge me, right? [00:43:20] But you, you feel guilty for it just because you know that you have, like, what is called an [00:43:25] easier baby. So I find that that's, quite a difficult or interesting thing.

[00:43:29] Julia: It's an [00:43:30] interesting thing certainly to notice also at, like, at seven weeks it, it comes up [00:43:35] so much where- I don't know, in parenting it just, it can [00:43:40] come up a lot in so many different ways as time goes on, where you feel like, "Do I have the [00:43:45] space? Am I allowed?" Um, and the answer is [00:43:50] invariably yes, but there is a feeling like maybe I'm not allowed.

[00:43:53] Yeah. Maybe I'm not, and [00:43:55] that's a really hard place to be.

[00:43:57] Alexandra: Yeah, yeah. Very, very hard place. Very, [00:44:00] very hard place. Yep.

[00:44:03] Julia: Christina, sorry I cut you off.

[00:44:04] Christine: No, I [00:44:05] was just gonna say I've talked to several parents who almost sheepishly [00:44:10] say, like, "I'm en- I'm enjoying it, and it's good, and they're sleeping." [00:44:15] And, and often with other parents you feel like you're, you can't say that because they're all, "Oh my [00:44:20] gosh, I'm not getting any sleep, and they're constantly crying, and this is..."[00:44:25]

[00:44:25] Uh, but we need more of those voices to say, not that it's easy for sure, but [00:44:30] this, you know, yeah, you're enjoying it and, and it- he's an [00:44:35] quote easy baby. Like, we need to hear that too. Mm-hmm. Otherwise you just hear horror stories.

[00:44:38] Alexandra: Yeah, definitely. [00:44:40] But it is still hard.

[00:44:42] Christine: And it is hard enough. Yes, yes. The easy route [00:44:45] is still hard enough.

[00:44:46] Alexandra: Yes.

[00:44:47] Christine: Absolutely.

[00:44:48] Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

[00:44:49] Christine: Yeah.

[00:44:49] Alexandra: Yeah. [00:44:50] I'm very fortunate that I have, um, you know, a very supportive partner, and I [00:44:55] think that we make a, and we make a very good team, so I think that that's like super important [00:45:00] and, and definitely has helped being, you know, helping me enjoy [00:45:05] this, this newborn phase.

[00:45:08] Julia: How have you been able to look [00:45:10] after you during this newborn phase?

[00:45:14] Alexandra: Yep, [00:45:15] that's interesting. Um, so my partner is, is... Okay, so the two weeks paternity [00:45:20] leave is not enough I

[00:45:22] Julia: mean, it's a joke.

[00:45:23] Alexandra: Yeah. For [00:45:25] him to go back to work after two weeks was terrifying, especially after a C-section. You're supposed to be on bed [00:45:30] rest essentially for two weeks.

[00:45:31] Julia: Was, was he... Did he have to be in office every day?

[00:45:34] Alexandra: [00:45:35] Yeah.

[00:45:35] Julia: Oh,

[00:45:35] Alexandra: that's just so- Yeah, he's in office ... oh my God. Yeah, can't. But he's, he's going [00:45:40] down to 80%. Um, so having that one day a week together is [00:45:45] fantastic. , So I book all of my appointments for the Thursday so that, like, we can go out and head [00:45:50] out. , He takes usually the late shift, so usually he's looking after him, him now and [00:45:55] give him the bottle, the last feed, so that I can go to bed earlier and so I can get a [00:46:00] few extra...

[00:46:01] I can, you know, have the shower in peace, not think about it. [00:46:05] Um, yeah, and then go to sleep for, you know, and get a good solid... Even when [00:46:10] he was waking up at, like, every couple of hours at the start, um, yeah, I, [00:46:15] I could get that solid four, four hours of sleep in, so that, like, made me feel [00:46:20] like so much better.

[00:46:22] Another thing for me is that he really likes [00:46:25] the carrier, and that, that means that I can get out and walk [00:46:30] and go into nature and, and do that for me, as well as him. Um, so [00:46:35] I think those, those things, have been like, uh, yeah, a godsend for me[00:46:40] [00:46:45]

[00:46:45] Julia: Yeah. Um, going outside and having, and just adding water is [00:46:50] one of my, like, top tips for the newborn phase. Just add water is like, make [00:46:55] sure you're hydrating, but also, like, get in the shower, and if baby needs a [00:47:00] reset, sometimes a bath can do that too. So that- Yeah ... just add water and get outside.

[00:47:04] They're like two [00:47:05] amazing things, and you've learned that at seven weeks. Like, that's so good. Yeah. [00:47:10]

[00:47:10] Alexandra: That's really, really good. Perfect. Oh, and one other thing that we did which was super helpful for the recovery was that [00:47:15] we, I, I pre-cooked a lot of meals. Yes. And so we didn't have to think about it.[00:47:20]

[00:47:20] And my parents, when they were here, they cooked for us and cooked some meals for [00:47:25] the freezer. Sh- my, my partner's parents did the same. And also the [00:47:30] first week that Stefan went back to work, I organized, like, a visit [00:47:35] every single day, and I told them that they needed to bring food.

[00:47:39] Julia: [00:47:40] Yes. Oh, Alex, shout it from the rooftops.

[00:47:43] Yeah. That is fantastic. [00:47:45] Well done. Did you, did you have to buy a new freezer? How did you- We did ... make it[00:47:50]

[00:47:54] with the freezer? We did, yeah. . [00:47:55] So, , Alex, we're gonna ask you our final question. We always ask the same question, and it is, like, this, [00:48:00] it is very much intentionally very open for interpretation.

[00:48:04] Um, [00:48:05] we would really love to hear what you would describe as your most brilliant [00:48:10] moment. Did he just, uh, burp on you? Yes. Amazing. [00:48:15]

[00:48:16] Alexandra: I think, honestly, this is one of the most amazing moments- Yes ... when you finally get [00:48:20] him to burp.

[00:48:24] Oh, [00:48:25] that's cute.

[00:48:28] Julia: Um, did I even say that? Or your [00:48:30] most brilliant moment.

[00:48:31] Alexandra: The most ... Honestly, as much [00:48:35] as, like, I, like, hated the pregnancy, I think, the [00:48:40] fact that you can grow a whole human, I think that that's, the most [00:48:45] brilliant and, mind-boggling part of, of it is that, you [00:48:50] know, I've, grown this whole human from scratch, you know?

[00:48:53] I did [00:48:55] that. , And also, I mean, uh, [00:49:00] also just us as a family together. Um, I think [00:49:05] that's been, like, I, I get emotional even thinking about it. You know, watch my partner be a father, watch [00:49:10] us be parents together and, you know, as much as when it's, when it's hard, [00:49:15] us supporting each other I think from a perspective I think that's been, [00:49:20] like, one of the most brilliant parts.

[00:49:21] And seeing him grow and that first smile. [00:49:25] I mean, all, you know, all of those things. It's, it's all pretty [00:49:30] special

[00:49:30] Christine: That is amazing. Thank you so much, Alex, for, [00:49:35] for sharing, and I'm glad we got a glimpse of Louie. [00:49:40] Yes, he's pretty special. Thank you so much for [00:49:45] having me.