My Positive Birth Story: Pineo Luxury, Water Birth, 2025

If you are looking for a positive birth story, here is one. I’m glad we decided to have the second baby, at least because it gave me a chance to experience labour and birth as it is, not being induced, numb, pushing till I tear up, and generally being coerced into what I wanted to avoid at all costs.

After 3.5 years, I had a much clearer vision of what I wanted (not just “vaginal birth, with my husband being there, this hospital, this room, this doctor; contractions on a fitball and then let’s see how it goes”.

I had a detailed birth plan in two languages, and I was ready to fight for it, if necessary. Luckily, all fights were left on the stage of prenatal appointments - I’ll explain what I mean in a minute.

PRENATAL CHECKUPS AND MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Last time, I was doing my state-financed prenatal appointments at Medical House, where my doctor Shorena was working, but this time, Medical House has opted out of the state program. Being a citizen of Georgia, I find this program helpful, as it covers all the main tests.

This was not the only change. I wasn’t eager to repeat my experience in Gagua Hospital, where I enjoyed the postnatal period but was unhappy with how my first birth experience ended up. For the second time, I wanted to try Pineo Luxury, which is famous for less invasive births among expat moms.

Pineo is not a part of the state program when it comes to co-financing the labour and delivery, but the prenatal program is free. Alright, I thought, I saved 1000 GEL at checkups, and will spend 1000 GEL more for giving birth in the Luxury department.

NB: Pineo Luxury is on the 4th floor, “regular” Pineo that accepts co-financing from the state is on the 3rd, but it mostly has shared wards and employs different staff. The checkups are done on the 1st floor, and this is a place I spent the majority of my patience resources in 2025.

Long story short: it’s chaos! I wouldn’t do it again. All the queuing without rules, ignoring the appointments made by phone, pregnant and non-pregnant people in one crowded space… gah. In this case, Gagua was much better. I don’t have pregnancy included in my insurance, but I think I could have gone to Curatio if I wanted to.

Anyways, it is in the past now. And, choosing Pineo Luxury for birth was the right decision for me. I was really keen to have a water birth - it was impossible in Gagua back in 2022. Here, it was an option, and I wanted to hire the only midwife who helps during water birth anyway.

Magda is legendary among moms who gave birth in Pineo - she’s got a strong personality, is firm but compassionate, uses a variety of techniques to help you relax, and is pro-natural birth, which is important. If your hospital team is not on your side, but on the side of an easier decision according to the hospital’s internal policy, it’s very hard for you to be relaxed and do your only job.

BIRTH DAY

Actually, it was my wedding anniversary, and I was contemplating going to the swimming pool with my husband and son. However, I ended up in another pool with another son! How fun is that?

While my first birth started with contractions that intensified over time (I even managed to sleep through the night with them), this one started with my water breaking when I was watching the team of cleaners and some Netflix in my house on Sunday evening. Luckily, the hospital bags were packed.

We called Magda, got ready, arranged the grandma’s help, and went to Pineo Luxury. 

First, the bureaucratic questions need to be handled. It’s done on the first floor - someone from the 4th goes with you, though. You get registered, and an ultrasound is performed to see where the baby’s head is. Then, depending on your condition, you either get a vaginal check asap or you’re given some time. I was given some time, as the contractions were super slow and irregular.

But what I learned from my previous birth and many useful videos I watched, there is no need to sit and wait for them to start. If the labour doesn’t progress, the senior medical team will be enforcing their protocols and use a lot of clever words to make you agree to interventions, because they don’t want any big risks (I mean, who wants to risk someone’s health and their own job, right?)

So, to make your life easier, activate the process and spare the medical team their clever words as collateral, you need to MOVE.

I kind of knew it before my first birth, but experiencing the sensations of my pelvic bones widening, the contractions intensifying, etc - all of this for the first time - it just made me grounded at the fitball. I was recommended to jump on it, and I dutifully did. However, as I know now, I did it wrong.

This time, I was watching two YouTube channels a lot, and most importantly, PRACTICING what they recommended.

1. Pregnancy & Postpartum TV

2. Bridget Teyler

I can't be grateful enough to both women for their work! Besides learning the right movements (and successfully turning the breech baby at week 38), I also changed my mind about what I had to do this time around.

My decisions helped me experience a really good, I’m not afraid to say, a pleasant labour and birth.

1. I asked for the laxative immediately after checking in. In 2022, I refused and felt uncomfortable and embarrassed afterwards, regardless of how natural and common the consequences were. Plus, as I aimed for a water birth, I thought it was a good idea. It genuinely was.

2. Favourite aromas and ambient lights worked better this time. In 2022, I had the light in the birthing ward switched off, but the personnel always switched it on. This time around, I was adamant about having it off, and they complied, unless I had to have a cervical check, of course. I had my own small night light, plus, in Pineo, there are chances to have more intimate lighting.
   

3. Favourite music or movies help, they say. I didn’t feel like music, but I watched Avengers while bouncing on the fitball for the first time. While I like the movie, it was still suspenseful and not relaxing. This time around, I put on the Chamber of Secrets, because it’s associated with childhood and cosy nights under the blanket in my bedroom. Instead of bouncing, I literally moved my ass all the time (yes, I had to watch the movie standing, but it was very beneficial). I also put Queen on and danced. It felt more positive and energising than the music I chose in 2022. No wonder I didn’t want it when it came to birth!
   

4. Resting is crucial because labour is a marathon. I had snacks to have an energy boost. My husband got me almonds from Udabno, yogurt, and warm, sweet tea. It felt just right.In 2022, I slept after an epidural, and there was no progress. This time around, I was lying down from time to time, having a peanut ball between my legs, but not staying in the same position for too long. The contractions did intensify, but I felt rested.

Magda, my midwife, asked me not to chill too much, because the progress might stop, and according to the protocols, the doctors will start insisting on oxytocin (I guess, around 7 hours had passed by this time). We didn’t want that, so I got up and started walking, doing the 8s and dancing again. It worked really well.

5. When I was at the stage of groaning, moaning, and being unable to talk during the contractions (it means the dilation was close to full, no cervical checks needed), Magda took me to the bathroom, put me on the fitball, and gave me hot showers for a good half an hour or more (at least it felt like this).

I didn’t feel comfortable making any sounds like this during my first birth, as there were too many people in the room, plus I was brought to that stage by the artificial oxytocin, had my feet paralysed by the epidural, and was directed to push when the medical team said.

This stage went very quickly - we realised the pool needed to be filled when I was sounding totally like an animal. The nurses filled the pool, while I was howling like Team Jacob during contractions and resting with the peanut ball in between. I did get my third cervical check and was allowed into the tub, which felt AMAZING.

6. There, in warm water, things escalated. I was on my knees, with my hands on the poolside. Two pushes, and the baby got close. Magda said it would be more convenient for her to help me deliver if I sit on the little porch inside the pool. I was like - hell no, I’m delivering like this. She said okay, and I suddenly felt so happy and motivated, because it was my son’s birthday party, I got to organize it, and no one was overriding my decisions - we were working together.

   
   

One more push - and I heard Magda saying “Oh, he’s got a lovely, tiny nose! You’ll be done with the next push, get ready.”

I got ready, relaxed, then came the wave of pain, and then came relief. I sensed the baby passing through. It was weird, it was cool, I couldn’t believe how great it felt! 

Then I sat on that porch, hugged the baby, my husband cut the cord… and that’s how our anniversary morning kicked off 😂

In total, I spent 8 hours from no contractions to full dilation and smooth delivery. Still can’t believe it was 15 minutes, 4 pushes, and no tears. In 2022, I pushed for 2 hours and got Daniel out with the help of Kristeller’s maneuver, followed by the perineal tears and long-lasting, delicate problems in the neighboring area (if you know, you know).

Fun fact: both babies were over 4 kg.

So, to sum it all up: movement, vertical positions, teamwork with the midwife and husband, staying cool, dim lights, warm water, small energising snacks… and maximally empty bowels really made a difference.

AFTER BIRTH

As for the postnatal care, it was okay, we didn’t give the baby to sleep under the nurses' supervision, like we did in Gagua. He was with me, latched all the time, learning to eat. With Daniel, I was told not to do so, and we struggled with colostrum a lot. Of course it came slowly because I wasn't giving him the boob! Ugh. First time mom...

The nurses were really sweet and kind to us, but they also had this habit of coming “only to check on us” and talking loudly, even though the baby and we were sleeping. We asked them not to. We were not shy anymore - in 2022, we were.

The hospital food is probably the same everywhere in Tbilisi - they feed you a lot of bread, even though you need to be easy on your bowels. The feeding times are also very Georgian - 10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM. I had my protein-rich breakfasts from Lui Coffee at 9 AM already, because I didn’t want to wait for the carbs served late, and we also had sushi for the anniversary dinner. Finally, raw fish, mwahaha!

In some hospitals, including Gagua, they give you some small gifts for you and the kid - cosmetics, hygienic items, etc. We didn’t get anything in Pineo, but honestly, the whole experience of birth was so cool that I didn’t care about samples of baby cream. It’s much better than a traumatic birth and a goodie pack afterwards!

Please let me know if you have any questions! I hope it was helpful, and wish you a smooth labour and a positive first meeting with your baby!