04/02/2026
👶💦A Waterbirth Story from Greece 💦👶
This birth unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece, a time of uncertainty and, isolation. For Ilona, it became a powerful reclamation of trust in her body and the wisdom of physiologic birth.
After a traumatic first birth by cesarean, she began seeking a gentler path. Through education, supportive care, and discovering the work of Frederick Leboyer and Michel Odent, her understanding of birth shifted completely. By her second pregnancy, something new emerged - confidence.
“I finally felt strong and deeply understanding my body.”
Although her second baby arrived on land, water left a lasting imprint. When she became pregnant again, this time managing chronic back pain and navigating pandemic restrictions, she knew water would be essential. A birth pool arrived just in time.
Labor began quietly in the night. With her midwife traveling hours to reach her and her doula unable to attend, she created her own cocoon of safety—music, movement, visualization, and long stretches of inward focus. Her home was calm, supportive, and alive with quiet presence.
When intensity built, she instinctively knew what she needed.
“Help me get in the pool - NOW.”
Within minutes of entering the warm water, everything softened. The water brought relief, intimacy, and a deep sense of security. She moved instinctively, listened to her body, and supported her baby’s descent with presence and trust. Her voice rose and not from pain, but from power.
“I was screaming, but it was a scream of expression of my power... not pain.”
In the water, her baby arrived calmly and gently, welcomed with loving hands. The experience was transformative. The birth was was embodied, emotional, and unforgettable.
Stories like this remind us why waterbirth matters. It's not just for comfort, but for healing, autonomy, and reconnection with our innate capacity to birth.
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