Grethe was born on May 24 last year. She was a long-awaited baby - Marianna Johnsson Hägglund had had nine miscarriages before and Grethe came through assisted conception, IVF. Marianna was afraid of childbirth even before she became pregnant but the further into the pregnancy she came, the fear grew stronger.

- I was not afraid of the pain itself, but because I did not have control and that the worst imaginable could happen. We were so close to the goal, so close to having our little child. The thought of how easily it can be pulled away made me scared.

One and the same midwife

At the Aurora clinic in Sundsvall, which helps women in childbirth, she was asked to participate in a study which meant that she would be followed by one and the same midwife throughout pregnancy and childbirth, a model known as caseload midwifery. She had to meet midwife Jenny Jansson for a call six times before it was time to give birth.

- We talked about what the fear was in and during the course of the conversation I dared to open myself. I was afraid of losing the baby or that oxygen deficiency would occur. Many people go to the Aurora Reception because they want to have Caesarean section, but in my case I was afraid of Caesarean section.

"I needed to hear that the child was feeling well"

Marianna Johnsson Hägglund had to visit a delivery room and see the door leading down to the operating room where the caesarean section is being made - a door she felt fear of.

- Many times it's about small things, to me it was about a door. Only I talked about the tears, ”she says.

When it was time to give birth, Marianna had text contact with her midwife who showed up at the birth.

- I could relax and felt completely confident that she knew what my fears were. I needed to hear that the child was feeling well and that everything flowed naturally.

Midwife Jenny Jansson sees only benefits with the model that is relatively untested in Sweden.

- It's absolutely fantastic, like closing the circle. It will be like an ending, she says.

- The positive is that when I get into childbirth, this woman is dedicated just to me. I can stay with the couple as much as they want and have no other patient to think about.

The fear of childbirth is gone

Today, Marianna Johnsson Hägglund is no longer afraid to give birth and she wishes that more people would have the same opportunity.

- I had a very good and completely complication-free birth and I am convinced that Jenny has a big part in that. It was so nice.

One year later, they still have contact.

- It won't be a day without me thinking about her, says Marianna Johnsson Hägglund.