S02E13 Sara: The Power Of Words, Choices and Care. Two Different Births, One in Denmark, Another in Switzerland.

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Sara is a researcher and doula in Zurich, her own website and her resources are below this description.

What if the difference between a hard birth and a healing one was a few well-chosen words, a handful of choices and a team that truly listened? Sarah’s story spans two countries and two radically different experiences where she found her rhythm, her voice, and her power. Her first, an induction in Denmark marked by pressure toward an epidural that failed, and later, in Zurich, having to forgo her goal of giving birth at Delphy's Birth House, for an induced hospital water birth at Triempli Stadtspital.

We walk through the real contrasts in maternity care. Denmark’s midwife-led approach offered continuity and calm, with minimal medicalisation. Switzerland provided more monitoring, options, and risk framing. Both helped in different ways, but the decisive factor was how supported Sarah felt. After a tough recovery the first time, including a third-degree tear and weeks of painful feeding before a tongue tie was found, she dove into preparation for her second: a birth house plan, a doula by her side, and tools like hypnobirthing, sophrology, breath counts, and a TENS unit. When her waters likely released and the clock started, she transferred to hospital and advocated clearly: no oral misoprostol, start with a midwife’s brew, then use a reversible oxytocin drip. An “angel midwife” kept the space safe. The oxytocin built, she stayed in rhythm, and the team filled a birth pool. With calm coaching to slow crowning, she birthed her son gently with no tearing.

Sara's Resources:
Why and how to use the TENS machine

Blog post on TENS

Epi-no device, to train and stretch the perineum, to prevent tears (a good alternative is perineal massage):

Favorite international birth stories podcasts:

- https://australianbirthstories.com/

- https://www.thepositivebirthstorypodcast.com/

hypnobirthing listening track and meditation/timer app for labor:

Favorite and super knowledgeable IBCLC lactation consultants (in CH/IT/DK - all offer online consultations in EN)

Fitness and pregnancy/birth wisdom

Surprisingly true and favorite reads: 1 2

Sara's own doula websit

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