Swiss Birth Stories

About Swiss Birth Stories

Our mission is to share diverse birth stories from across Switzerland in a way that empowers the storyteller. We aim to create a supportive space where each person is in control of their own narrative. By recording and sharing birth stories in Switzerland, we hope to inspire those planning their own birth, offer insights for birth workers, or allow listeners to reflect on their own birth experiences. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts to hear real, personal, raw birth stories.

Publisher

Julia and Christine

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Apr 2025

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   Bree: Two Hospital Births in Geneva, Building Your Support Team Before You Need It, a Husband’s Cancer Diagnosis in Pregnancy, and Finding Courage

   Send us Fan Mail (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/fan-mail) Join us on Patreon (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/patreon-sbs) or Support the show (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/support-the-show) Please connect with us: Click here to share your story and be our next guest! (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/guest-on-show) Check out Julia's upcoming courses (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/hypnobirthing-plus) Check out Christine's doula services (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-doula) Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-shop) All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/all-episodes) “Do I want to have regrets just because I’m not able to face my fear?” Bree takes us through her two births, the Accompagnement Global midwife program at HUG she used in her first birth, Clinique des Grangettes in her second, and the choice to have a second baby after a hard postpartum. When her husband is diagnosed with cancer early in her second pregnancy pregnancy, the support she had built becomes her lifeline. This episode is honest, funny (at times) and hopeful (a lot of the time). Bree's Resources: 1st pregnancy: Accompagnement Global at HUG (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève) 2nd pregnancy : Clinique des Grangettes (Hirslanden Group), Chêne-Bougeries (Canton Geneva) Bree's resources: - Registering the 1st hour of life of your baby. Put the “Dictaphone” app on and forgot about it . (Also helping the coparent to be fully focus on what is happening and not “take pictures/videos”) - For breastfeeding: La LecheLeague - For similar podcast on maternity (in French): Bliss stories (https://bliss-stories.fr/pages/podcast-maternite-bliss-stories) - For postpartum community (in French): Fabuleuses au foyer (https://fabuleusesaufoyer.com/) To start with, you can subscribe to a free email, every day at 6 AM to motivates you, inspires you as a mom: le mail du matin (https://web.fabuleusesaufoyer.com/mail-du-matin/) - For sanity, helping to “take nap” when you’re hypervigilant: yoga nidra sessions or guided meditation. - Also for sanity, when you know you’re dysregulated, this free app for cardiac coherence Respirelax+ (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thermesallevard.respi_relax&gl=FR) (Google) Respirelax+ (https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/respirelax/id515900420) (Apple) Questions Answered in this Episode: What is the Accompagnement Global at HUG in Geneva? It is a program at the Geneva University Hospital where a small group of midwives follows you from pregnancy through birth and postpartum. You get to know them beforehand, and one of them is always on duty at the hospital, so you give birth with someone you already know. Can you choose where to give birth in Geneva? Yes. Bree describes three options: the birth center, the university hospital (HUG), or a private clinic. She chose the HUG program for her first birth and Clinique des Grangettes for her second. Is it normal to lose weight during pregnancy? It can happen, especially with severe first-trimester nausea. Bree lost 5 kg early in her first pregnancy while the baby developed normally, and her gynecologist wasn’t concerned. She kept eating “safe foods” in her second pregnancy to avoid the same loss. Anyone worried about weight should check in with their care provider. This episode touches on the realities of pregnancy as a thin woman who doesn't put on a lot of weight including discussing double standards, health concerns and body shaming. How can you cope with a long labour and ask for an epidural? Bree labored for about two days and asked for an epidural after exhaustion and shaking set in. In that hospital, there was about a 90-minute wait, which she found very long. Her second baby arrived while her epidural was fading- you'll have to listen to get the details on how she coped. How do you handle a pregnancy while a partner has a serious illness? Bree booked support immediately, including a hypnotherapy session, therapy and EMDR, and told her workplace right away. She also found a podcast episode from another woman in a similar situation, which helped her feel less alone. She stresses that communication between partners can be hard, because each tries not to burden the other. Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/listen), Write a review (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/review), and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show. @swissbirthstories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-ig) @lilybeezurich (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-ig) @juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/julia-ig) www.juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/juliathedoula) www.lilybee.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee) www.swissbirthstories.com (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-website) Swiss Birth Stories shares personal birth experiences for education and support. It is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, so please speak with your midwife, doctor or other qualified healthcare provider about your own care. Mentioned in this episode: Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network 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. SwissCast Network (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/swisscast) Join Julia's birth preparation class Julia's class (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/https-www-juliathedoulach-service-page-hypnobirthing-birth-preparation-course)

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Katie: Two Unmedicated Water Births at Triemli in Zurich, Midwife-Led Care and Feeling Strong Postpartum

   Send us Fan Mail (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/fan-mail) Join us on Patreon (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/patreon-sbs) or Support the show (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/support-the-show) Please connect with us: Click here to share your story and be our next guest! (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/guest-on-show) Check out Julia's upcoming courses (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/hypnobirthing-plus) Check out Christine's doula services (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-doula) Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-shop) All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/all-episodes) Katie’s two midwife led births at Triemli Stadtspital in Zurich share a surprising thread: both times, a skilled and observant midwife noticed what was standing between baby and this world, and once it was resolved, things moved quickly. In this warm, practical conversation, Katie talks us through her experience of giving birth to her children. We discuss staying active throughout pregnancy and postpartum, water birth, hypnobirthing, motherhood, and birth plans. She also shares her honest experience of breastfeeding pain, rebuilding strength postpartum, finding joy and what changed when her second baby arrived and her three year old became a big sister. If you’re preparing for a birth in Switzerland, this episode is full of ideas to take to your own midwife or care team. Katie's Resources: Katie's own youtube channel (including her pregnancy and postpartum workout videos, interview episodes with Julia about hypnobirthing and so much more): https://www.youtube.com/@MyPregnancyPostpartumJourney (https://www.youtube.com/@MyPregnancyPostpartumJourney) Katie's webpage: www.up2mama.com (http://www.up2mama.com/) And Women's TCM Specialist in Pregnancy and Postpartum, based in Zurich: https://www.tcm-jammal.ch/ (https://www.tcm-jammal.ch/) Silverettes (https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s10/product/silverette-still-silberhuetchen-l-nipple-shields-68762247) Questions Answered in this Episode: Can you stay active throughout pregnancy, and how might it affect postpartum recovery? Katie exercised through both pregnancies, often just 10 to 15 minutes a day while her children napped. She added exercises for her glutes and hips after a physiotherapist advised her on sciatica. She believes this training also helped her feel strong in postpartum. Of course, check what’s right for you with your midwife or doctor. How do you choose a hospital in Zurich, and how do you make sure your birth preferences are recorded? Katie wrote a birth plan for both births and met a hospital midwife before the first. Before her second birth, she called to ask if she needed a meeting and was told everything was fine. On arrival, her plans for another midwife led birth were not on file, and she was told that a doctor and IV were part of the standard process. It took about half an hour of discussion among staff to arrange the midwife-led birth she wanted. Her sound advice is to confirm well before you go into labour exactly what is recorded in your file, because negotiating is not something you want to do when in labour. What is a water birth like, and how long should you stay in the tub? Katie found the warm water calming, and both her babies were born in the tub. In her first labour, her midwife suggested getting out for a while when progress slowed, since long stretches in water can tire the body. She went back in for pushing. What helps with breastfeeding pain and postpartum support when you also have a toddler? Katie found silverettes and nipple shields helpful, and her second baby’s tongue tie was treated. After her first birth she relied on her postpartum midwife, her sister and local mum friends. After her second, her husband was home for three months, which gave both children one on one time with a parent. Katie wants other parents to know breastfeeding can be painful, and that it’s also possible to feel strong in postpartum. Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/listen), Write a review (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/review), and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show. @swissbirthstories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-ig) @lilybeezurich (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-ig) @juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/julia-ig) www.juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/juliathedoula) www.lilybee.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee) www.swissbirthstories.com (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-website) Swiss Birth Stories shares personal birth experiences for education and support. It is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, so please speak with your midwife, doctor or other qualified healthcare provider about your own care. Mentioned in this episode: Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network 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. SwissCast Network (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/swisscast) Join Julia's birth preparation class Julia's class (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/https-www-juliathedoulach-service-page-hypnobirthing-birth-preparation-course) Lilybee Doulas Lilybee Doula (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/https-www-lilybeech-doula-)

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

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

   Send us Fan Mail (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/fan-mail) Join us on Patreon (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/patreon-sbs) or Support the show (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/support-the-show) Please connect with us: Click here to share your story and be our next guest! (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/guest-on-show) Check out Julia's upcoming courses (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/hypnobirthing-plus) Check out Christine's doula services (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-doula) Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-shop) All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/all-episodes) Alexandra, a footballer who moved to Bern six years ago, shares her pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience just seven weeks after having her son. She explains how she chose an English-friendly hospital in Bern (Salem Spital), how her history of concussion impacted her pregnancy and overall health and fitness journey, how an English language birth preparation course helped her and her partner, and what pregnancy felt like as an athlete. She also describes how a long labour led to an unplanned cesarean birth (C-section) that she and her partner chose together, with partner present, skin-to-skin and a family room stay. Alexandra covers cesarean recovery, breastfeeding challenges, postpartum midwife support, two weeks' paternity leave in Switzerland, and the practical things that helped most: rest (and loving people who kept telling her to rest), pre-cooked meals, fresh air and a supportive partner. Alexandra's Resources: Inselspital's app mentioned (https://kinderklinik.insel.ch/de/unser-angebot/neonatologie/elterninformationen/spitalaufenthalt/apps) in the podcast (Insel Health- Mama Care) Alexandra's birth preparation class was with Mamamundo Questions Answered in this Episode: 1. What is pregnancy and postpartum recovery like for an athlete in Switzerland? Alexandra, a footballer living in Bern, found pregnancy mentally challenging because she could no longer control her body, sleep and training the way she was used to. Her earlier concussion recovery taught her to accept her body's limits, and during postpartum she leaned on "rest, rest, rest" advice from her midwife, partner and family. 2. How do I choose a hospital and prepare for birth as an English speaker in Switzerland? Alexandra discovered she had three hospitals within an eight-minute drive in Bern. She attended hospital information sessions and chose Salem Spital because English was an accepted language. She also joined an English-language birth preparation course and took an infant emergency first aid course with her partner. 3. What happens if your waters break before contractions start? In Alexandra's experience, her waters broke six days past her due date. The hospital midwives invited her in, checked her, and offered the choice to go home to rest, since labour had only just begun. She notes that waters breaking is often not the emergency people expect. Always follow the guidance of your own midwife or hospital. 4. What is an unplanned cesarean birth (C-section) like, and how are decisions made in the moment? After a long labour with little progress, Alexandra and her partner were given two options: a cesarean now or waiting to see if labour progressed. They took some time and chose the calmer, planned-style cesarean. Her partner was present, they opted for a clear window to see the birth, and she had skin-to-skin contact and initiated breastfeeding shortly after her baby was born. They then stayed together in a hospital family room. 5. What does postpartum support look like in Switzerland? Alexandra describes a hospital stay of three nights after birth in a family room at Bern's Salem Spital, a postpartum midwife who prioritised rest, lactation consultant support for breastfeeding challenges, and (near) absent physiotherapy care. She also discusses the limits of two weeks' paternity leave in Switzerland and how family and friends helped with meals and freezer food. Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/listen), Write a review (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/review), and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show. @swissbirthstories (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-ig) @lilybeezurich (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee-ig) @juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/julia-ig) www.juliathedoula.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/juliathedoula) www.lilybee.ch (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/lilybee) www.swissbirthstories.com (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/sbs-website) Swiss Birth Stories shares personal birth experiences for education and support. It is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, so please speak with your midwife, doctor or other qualified healthcare provider about your own care. Mentioned in this episode: Lilybee Doulas Lilybee Doula (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/https-www-lilybeech-doula-) Join Julia's birth preparation class Julia's class (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/https-www-juliathedoulach-service-page-hypnobirthing-birth-preparation-course) Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network 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. SwissCast Network (https://swiss-birth-stories.captivate.fm/swisscast)

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

84

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.