Kristina: Pandemic Pregnancy to Empowered Parenting: Resilience, Gentle Support and Connection
If 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!
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Kristina's Resources
- Instagram: @babina970
- Website: www.babinakristina.com (here you can learn all about her diverse projects and businesses)
- FB: Kristina Babina
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The 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.
00:00 - Untitled
00:08 - Meet Christina And The Hosts
01:13 - Kristina’s Background And Entrepreneurship
02:30 - Deciding On Partnership And Parenthood
05:37 - Surprise Pregnancy And COVID Timing
10:48 - Working Through Pregnancy During Lockdowns
12:17 - Labour Begins And Hospital Arrival
16:13 - Long Labour, Epidural, And Birth
20:37 - Birth Preferences And Flexible Mindset
25:57 - Social Pressure, Nuance, And Trusting Care
31:11 - Breastfeeding Pain And Midwife Clash
36:40 - The Male Midwife’s Game-Changing Support
41:46 - Going Home, Help From Mom, Back To Work
46:07 - No Daycare Slot And Creative Logistics
50:13 - Bottle Refusals, Yogurt Solution, And Nights
55:11 - Public Breastfeeding And Boundaries
01:00:29 - Weaning With A Five-Day Reset
01:04:21 - Sleep, Roles, And Responsive Parenting
