Giving birth in a bunker in Kyiv: 'I said to him you're a new Ukrainian'

[speak easy]

Viktoria, 32, describes the birth of her first child in Kyiv: 'While I was pregnant I had taken yoga classes, prepared for gentle birth-giving, took courses. It wasn’t like this.'

It was the second day of the war. … Me and my husband were afraid to drive to the hospital because of the explosions … The doctor said we needed to go to the bomb shelter … When we entered the shelter we were shocked. It was built in Soviet times and wasn’t maintained, it was crumbling and very wet and cold ...

For us there was a small room without any doors, only a shower curtain that separated us from the main room with 50 people in it. There was no medical technology, just a gynaecological chair. I was trying to not even look over there and hoping to go back to the hospital soon.

Then my waters broke. My doctor looked at me and said: “OK, we will do it here, it’s too dangerous to wait.” At that moment I wasn’t afraid. I trusted my doctor – the only thing on my mind was holding my son and ending the pain.

I was so happy when I saw my son, Fedor. With his black hair he looked like a small copy of my husband, who cut the cord. When I held Fedor he was very warm. I just felt, wow, love and pure happiness and all these mystical feelings.

As I held him in the bunker, I said to him: “You’re lucky, you’re unique, you’re born in Ukraine, you’re a new Ukrainian.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/02/giving-birth-in-a-bunker-in-kyiv-new-ukrainian

Victoria’s doctor was more concerned about her safety in a hospital, than having to give birth in a wet, cold Soviet era bunker. He was right to be. Putin is a barbarian.

Maternity hospital near Kyiv damaged after attack
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-n1290293/ncrd1290339#liveBlogCards

I hope my son will experience this war only from stories – that he will never, never feel what it’s like in real life ... I’m hoping and praying for peace – he’s a new Ukrainian, he should grow up in a new Ukraine.

Yes, but no doubt the new Ukraine will have new, well appointed, modern bunkers, just in case.

[secondwind]

1. ....

my eyes watered up when I saw the mom and her baby.... what a world we are living in today!!!

[speak easy]

3. The Russians shelled a maternity hospital.

Putin is a barbarian.

[Demovictory9]

2. I'm glad mom and baby are well

[Magoo48]

4. Peace, good health, and freedom to mother and child.

[brer cat]

5. What a nightmare.

I'm glad mom and baby are well.