Simone Wijnands about Podnataal: ‘I was not on that bright pink cloud myself’

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She just finished the seventh season of her podcast Podnatal and heavily pregnant with her third child with presenter Luuk Ikink. Journalist Simone Wijnands (38) about all types of childbirth and her own pregnancy.

During her first pregnancy, radio journalist Simone reads every baby bible. From front to back and back again. She absorbs every investigation, she wants to know everything because she ‘Project Being Pregnant wanted to do as best as possible’. “You wonder: can I do that? How am I as a parent? And how does that work, taking care of such a mini-person?” This is already different during her second pregnancy. “I was much more relaxed because I had that experience. I now had an idea of ​​what to expect. Even though no pregnancy is the same, that was reassuring.”

Manual

Yet the journalist still misses a place where all information comes together: from personal story to the expertise of professionals. “Actually a kind of manual for pregnant women. I wanted to take her by the hand and guide her through everything she could experience in the field of pregnancy and giving birth.” And so, during her second pregnancy in 2017, the podcast Podnatal born. A one woman production Simone has since put her soul, bliss and, above all, a lot of time into it.

It will be the first podcast full of personal stories from famous and lesser-known mothers and conversations with experts. “The best thing I think is that the podcast really connects women. In the end, it doesn’t matter how successful you are: giving birth is a crushing experience for every woman. That woman who is very famous from TV experiences exactly the same things as you. No matter how different every birth is, you still share the same experience physically and mentally.” For example, our Kirsten and Lizet Greve tell Simone extensively about their last delivery.

All kinds of childbirth

In seven seasons, all types of childbirth pass by. From caesarean section to full birth. From dream to nightmare. “Kylie’s story is one that I always carry with me. She lost her daughter a few months after giving birth, every parent’s worst nightmare. Something you never want to experience and also something other people would rather not hear about. It is hardly talked about, but unfortunately it does happen. It is then very unpleasant and lonely for the parents if the subject is kept silent.”

Years later, the story still impresses listeners. “I sometimes get messages from listeners who are or have been in a similar situation and who get support and recognition from these kinds of stories. It doesn’t make the sadness less, but I do think it can take away a bit of loneliness in that sadness.” Fortunately, Kylie is now doing a lot better, she gave birth to a healthy son in 2021.

In the final season, the story of Lynn jumps out, who experiences a dump birth. “She was in the shower when the labor suddenly started. In a few minutes she felt the head and she was all alone. Her husband just brought their son to the shelter and did not return in time. She gave birth to the baby all by herself. The first photo after giving birth was so special; she sat there with big surprised eyes with the baby in her arms, on the bathroom floor. Very impressive. But,” emphasizes Simone, “every story is beautiful. You can tell ten caesarean sections in a row or ten home births and every story is different.”

“In a few minutes she already felt the head and she was all alone”

Taboo

Podnatal becomes more and more a species with every season safe place where taboos are not shunned, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable the subjects are. “You may feel alone in your experience, but you are not. I think that is very important to pass along. Take, for example, that bright pink cloud that every new mother should sit on. I was not there myself and I will discuss that.”

So made a difficult delivery and the difficult recovery, in combination with hours of pumping for small amounts of milk and several serious breast infections before dark clouds in Simone’s postpartum period. “Although I was very happy with my son, I hardly went outside because I felt sick and ‘stuck’ to my breast pump. Strangely enough, I didn’t even notice that at the time, it was only much later that I really realized that I wasn’t myself then and that I wasn’t feeling well.”

“I hardly went outside because I felt sick and was ‘stuck’ to my breast pump”

The last time

Simone is now heavily pregnant with her third child, a wish that she and partner Luuk Ikink had for a long time. When she hardly dares to hope for it anymore, she still stands with a positive test in her hands, she says candidly in her own podcast. “I am experiencing this pregnancy very consciously, because it is my last. At the same time, life goes on as usual, with two children going to school (son Lieuwe (7) and daughter Jelka (4) ed.). Very different from a first pregnancy where the world only seems to revolve around you and the baby.”

Simone continues: “Now I no longer worry whether I can take care of him (Simone and Luuk are having a son, ed.); we’ve got that covered, haha. Yet it remains exciting. You think things like: should I even start this? I already have two healthy children, can it go well again? All those doubts just come back.”

After two caesarean sections, one emergency and one planned, the experience expert knows what awaits her soon “And yet in the hospital I will think again: why did I want this again?” But every mother will recognize that too.

You can listen to the Podnataal podcast here.

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