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Amidst the chaos of war, a remarkable story of resilience unfolded. Viktoria, a 32-year-old expectant mother, found herself giving birth in a bomb shelter in Kyiv during the initial days of Russia’s invasion. “While I was pregnant, I had taken yoga classes, prepared for gentle childbirth, and attended courses. It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Viktoria shared.
On the second day of the invasion, Viktoria and her husband navigated the eerie, empty streets of Ukraine’s capital to reach the hospital. However, instead of a serene delivery room, she ended up in a dilapidated bomb shelter, where she recalled giving birth on a narrow examination chair. “I couldn’t believe I was bringing a new life into the world amidst a war,” she reflected.
As explosions echoed outside, Viktoria began feeling contractions while she was tidying up her home in preparation for her baby’s arrival. The couple faced a tense journey, waiting 30 minutes in line for gas before making their way through deserted streets to the hospital. Although the lights were turned off for safety, the staff warmly welcomed them and initially led them to a “comfortable and colorful” room. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted when sirens began to wail.
“It was surreal to look out the window at the stunning Gothic architecture while hearing the alarms,” Viktoria expressed. As the urgency grew, they were swiftly moved to the bomb shelter, which she described as “very wet and cold,” a remnant from Soviet times. A shower curtain separated her from approximately 50 other individuals seeking refuge. A Guardian photograph captures the peeling paint and exposed pipes, alongside a makeshift “gynecological chair” where she would soon deliver.
Reluctantly, Viktoria prepared herself for the unexpected. “I was trying not to look over there, hoping to return to the hospital soon,” she recalled, but then her water broke. “My doctor looked at me and said: ‘OK, we will do it here, it’s too dangerous to wait.’” In that moment, her fear subsided as she placed her trust in her doctor, focusing solely on the impending arrival of her son.
In a poignant moment captured during the birth, Viktoria, still wearing her grey overcoat, pushed while holding onto her knees. Despite the grim surroundings, she experienced overwhelming joy upon seeing her baby for the first time. “I was ecstatic to see my son, Fedor. With his dark hair, he resembled a small version of my husband, who cut the cord,” she recalled. “I felt an incredible rush of love and happiness.”
Her first words to her newborn? “You’re lucky, you’re unique, you’re born in Ukraine, you’re a new Ukrainian.” Viktoria holds onto the hope for peace in the future, wishing that Fedor will only hear stories of the war, with his birth story being the most extraordinary of all.
For more on home insemination, this article highlights how you can learn more about the process through resources like Make a Mom and NHS, which provide valuable information on pregnancy.
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Summary: A Ukrainian mother, Viktoria, unexpectedly gave birth to her son in a bomb shelter during the Russian invasion. Despite the chaotic and fearful circumstances, she experienced immense joy upon holding her baby for the first time, hoping for a peaceful future for her child.