Ana: A Heart-Shaped Uterus, Walking Epidural and Finding Her Power
A clear plan helps, but the real story begins when birth asks you to adapt. Anna joins us from Zurich to share how she chose motherhood on her own terms, navigated a heart-shaped uterus without panic, and prepared through hypnobirthing, swimming, yoga, and an English antenatal class at Triemli Stadtspital in Zurich city.
What follows is a vivid, vulnerable account of labour: nausea between contractions, a walking epidural that brought crucial rest, and the moment where language clarity changed care.
As pushing stretched on, meconium and decelerations raised the stakes. The team considered a surgical birth before using a kiwi vacuum to help her daughter arrive safely.
Those first minutes were fleeting; NICU monitoring separated mother and baby, while Anna faced a retained placenta and an operation under general anesthesia. She wakes to the ache of a ventilated throat and a surge of doubt, then rebuilds confidence with compassionate midwives, pumping support, and steady skin-to-skin. Milk starts slow, then arrives in force at home, just as day-three hormones crash and cluster feeding rewrites the night.
We talk practical truths and tender ones: why clear communication matters in a second language, how boundaries around visitors protect recovery, and what pelvic floor rehab can do for strength, continence, and a gradual return to running. Anna’s reflections land with weight—becoming a mother as a chance to redefine identity and model courage for her daughter. If you’re expecting, supporting a birth, or processing your own story, this conversation offers grounded guidance, emotional honesty, and a reminder that resilience grows in the grey areas.
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Ana's Resources
- Rückbildung & Yoga kurs: https://www.hebammenpraxis-zuerich.ch/standorte
- Trainer pre/postpartum: https://www.sportzonezuerich.ch/
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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
00:01 - Meet Anna And The Hosts
02:32 - Choosing Motherhood With Intention
04:59 - Pregnancy With A Heart-Shaped Uterus
07:13 - Preparing Mind And Body
11:29 - Why Choose Triemli Hospital
14:26 - Labour Begins And Early Triage
18:21 - Tub, Nausea, And Clearer Communication
21:29 - Walking Epidural And Rest
24:49 - Long Pushing, Meconium, Kiwi Vacuum
28:11 - Neonatology Stay And Emotions
31:11 - Retained Placenta And Surgery
36:31 - Hospital Stay And Milk Challenges
40:21 - Homecoming, Boundaries, Family Support
44:11 - Postpartum Hormones And Sleep
48:21 - Breastfeeding, Healing, Pelvic Floor
52:31 - Identity, Resilience, Final Reflections
57:53 - Closing And Community Invitation
