Edna Swart and Reid Stephen welcomed their “little angel” Astyn into the world on April 19 – but the birth was “the exact opposite” of what they expected, because both mother and baby could have died.
The 34-year-old mother from New Zealand told FEMAIL she had imagined a “beautiful, calm, natural birth” and that despite an “uncomplicated pregnancy”, problems began to arise four days before delivery when the baby turned onto its back.
Edna, founder of skincare brand Ed&i Body, said the grueling 24-hour labour was unbearable and it was difficult to talk about the traumatic ordeal even months later.
Things took a turn at the hospital when Astyn passed meconium — baby feces — which can be dangerous to infants if inhaled and, in some cases, can cause health problems or death.
During labor, the baby’s heart rate slowed, Edna had an infection, and the umbilical cord became wrapped around the baby’s neck.
Despite the doctors’ best efforts, an emergency caesarean section was necessary and within five minutes Astyn was born.
“It was the worst pain I’ve ever had. I only had back pain from the contractions and no pain in my stomach,” she said.
“Many people say that a cesarean section is the ‘easy way out’ after giving birth – that is absolutely not the case.”
New Zealand couple Edna Swart and Reid Stephen welcomed their first son, Astyn, in April – but the birth was a terrifying experience. Edna, the founder of skincare brand Ed&i Body, said the gruelling 24-hour labour was unbearable and it was difficult to talk about the traumatic ordeal months later.
During labor, the baby’s heart rate began to drop, Edna developed an infection, and the umbilical cord became wrapped around the baby’s neck. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, an emergency Caesarean section was required and within five minutes, Astyn was born.
A doctor monitored Edna and the baby every minute to see – and hope – that he would turn back into the correct position. But he didn’t.
“I had an epidural but couldn’t sleep all night. I just lay on my side and listened to my baby’s heartbeat just to make sure he was OK,” she said.
“I initially decided against a C-section because I really wanted a natural birth. I didn’t want to have to go through the recovery when I had just had a baby. I told my doctor to do everything he could to make a natural birth possible.
“When I was lying in the hospital bed, I felt strangely embarrassed that I couldn’t give birth naturally. I don’t know why. I was really disappointed and thought, ‘Why can’t my body give birth naturally?'”
The next morning, Edna was distressed when the baby’s heartbeat slowed.
“Many people say that caesarean sections are the ‘easy way out’ after giving birth – that is absolutely not the case,” said Edna
By 8:30 a.m., her cervix was dilated enough to begin pushing and attempt a natural birth. She tried for an hour, but all that was pushed out was the baby’s feces.
“The doctors said, ‘We can’t do that – we have to try something else,’” Edna recalls.
She was also prepared for a Caesarean section, and doctors and midwives tried their best to deliver the baby.
“I didn’t know how urgent it was because baby’s heart rate was getting slower and slower. I remember looking down as they were pushing and they were pulling on my baby so hard I thought it couldn’t be good for him,” she said.
At this point, a race against time that could mean the difference between life and death began when the doctors realized that the umbilical cord was also wrapped around his neck.
The next morning, Edna was distraught as the baby’s heartbeat began to slow. They decided to perform an operation, with 20 doctors present – including three pediatricians – and within five minutes the baby was born.
They decided to perform the operation in the presence of 20 doctors – including three pediatricians – and within five minutes the baby was born.
“It was so intense, I couldn’t feel anything from the neck down (because of the Caesarean section), I was so stoned that I can’t remember holding him in my arms for the first time,” said Edna.
“I couldn’t hold him and all I ever wanted was that moment of first skin contact – but I didn’t get it.”
Fortunately, Astyn had no health problems since birth and did not inhale any meconium.
Instead of staying in the hospital, she was sent to the maternity ward, where she was cared for by nurses around the clock. They stayed there for four nights.
Edna chose this paid service because her stay in the hospital brought back “bad memories” of her mother’s death.
When she returned home with Astyn, she knew she had to tell her family what had happened and talked about it a lot, with tears in her eyes. Because she talks about it often with her family, she now feels more comfortable looking back on the traumatic experience.
After returning home with Astyn, she knew she had to tell her family what had happened and talked about it a lot, crying.
But it wasn’t over yet, because she still had to overcome another challenge.
It was incredibly difficult for her to look at herself in the mirror because she didn’t recognize her reflection.
“It’s a shocking state to see yourself in. Imagine you’ve just given birth, you can’t hold your baby, you can hardly move, you have a lot of fluid in your body, you’re bloated and your hands look like sausages,” she said.
“My husband had to help me shower and I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. I had to remind myself that that’s not who I am.”
After this terrible ordeal, Edna immediately went back to work and was answering emails just ten days later.
She recovered and took it easy for six weeks.
After this horrific ordeal, Edna went straight back to work and was answering emails ten days later. But she was still recovering and took it easy for six weeks. “The business was my first baby and I couldn’t wait to get back to work,” she said.
“The business was my first baby and I couldn’t wait to get back to work,” she said.
The period since then has been marked by remarkable business successes.
Three months after giving birth, the brand recently generated $264,000 in sales in five hours — thanks in large part to the launch of a new moisturizer called Day Hydrate.
This was mainly due to the introduction of a new moisturizer called Day Hydrate.
The New Zealand brand now has a loyal following of thousands who boast about their purchases on social media.
But the memories of Edna’s birth experience still affect her in another way. She doesn’t believe she will have any more children.
“I’ve always been a ‘one and done’ person, and I think now is definitely the time,” said Edna.
This decision was influenced not only by the traumatic birth experience, but also by other factors – including stress, financial problems and the fact that the world is a “crazy place” to bring children into.
“Our beautiful son is perfect and I don’t think our family will grow – but who knows what the future holds.”
