I was thrilled to be pregnant with my first baby - then things took a terrifying turn that could have left both me and my son dead. This is what I want all mums to know

Edna Swart and Reid Stephen welcomed their 'little angel' Astyn into the world on April 19 - but the birth was 'the polar opposite' to what they expected as mum and baby both could've died.

The 34-year-old mum from New Zealand told FEMAIL she envisioned a 'beautiful, tranquil natural birth' and despite having an 'easy pregnancy', problems began to surface four days out from labour when the baby flipped on his back.

Edna, the founder of skincare brand Ed&i Body, said the gruelling 24-hour labour was excruciating and the traumatic ordeal was difficult to talk about months later.

In hospital it took a turn when Astyn passed meconium - baby poo - which can be dangerous for infants if inhaled and can cause health problems or death in some cases. 

During labour the baby's heartrate decreased, Edna had an infection, and the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck. 

Despite doctors' best efforts, an emergency C-section was required and within five minutes Astyn was born.

'It was the most pain I've ever felt. I only had back pain from contractions and no pain in my belly,' she said. 

'A lot of people say C-sections are the "easy way" out of childbirth - it's absolutely not.' 

New Zealand couple Edna Swart and Reid Stephen had their first son Astyn in April - but their childbirth experience was horrific. Edna, the founder of skincare brand Ed&i Body, said the gruelling 24-hour labour was excruciating and the traumatic ordeal was difficult to talk about months later

During labour the baby's heart rate started decreasing, Edna came down with an infection, and the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck. Despite the best from doctors, an emergency C-section was required and within five minutes Astyn was born

A doctor was monitoring both Edna and baby every minute to see - and hope - he would flip back into the right position. But he didn't.

'I had an epidural but I couldn't sleep the whole night. I just laid on my side listening to my baby's heartbeat just to make sure he was okay,' she said. 

'I refused to get a C-section at first because I really wanted to have a natural birth. I didn't want to have to go through the recovery when I just had a newborn baby. I said to my doctor to please do everything you can to deliver a natural birth. 

'Lying in the hospital bed.. weirdly, I felt embarrassed that I couldn't give birth naturally. I don't know why. I was really disappointed, I thought "Why can't my body give birth normally?"' 

By the next morning Edna was distressed when the baby's heartbeat started to slow down.

'A lot of people say C-sections are the 'easy way' out of childbirth - it's absolutely not,' Edna said

At 8:30am she had dilated enough to start pushing to try give birth naturally. She tried for an hour but only the infant's faeces was pushed out. 

'The doctors said, "We can't do this - we're going to have to try something different",' Edna recalled. 

She was also being prepped for the C-section as a precaution then doctors and midwives tried their best to pull the baby out. 

'I didn't realise how urgent it became because baby's heartbeat was dropping and dropping. I remember looking down while pushing and they were pulling at my baby so hard that I thought his can't be good for him,' she said. 

At this point it was a race against time that could mean life or death as doctor's realised the umbilical cord was also wrapped around his neck. 

By the next morning Edna was distressed when the baby's heartbeat started to slow down. They then decided to perform surgery with 20 doctors in the room - including three paediatricians - and within five minutes the baby was born

They then decided to perform surgery with 20 doctors in the room - including three paediatricians - and within five minutes the baby was born. 

'It was so intense, I couldn't feel anything from the neck down (because of the C-section), I was so drugged up that I don't remember holding him for the first time,' Edna said. 

'I couldn't hold him and all I ever wanted was that moment of the first skin on skin contact - but I didn't get that.'

Thankfully, Astyn wasn't born with any health issues and didn't inhale any of the meconium.

Rather than staying in hospital she went into birth care where she had 24/7 support from nurses. They stayed there for four nights. 

Edna opted for this paid service because the hospital brought back 'bad memories' from when her mum passed away.

After arriving back home with Astyn she knew she had to tell her family what happened and spoke about it a lot through tears. By talking about it often with family she now feels comfortable looking back at the traumatic experience 

After arriving back home with Astyn she knew she had to tell her family what happened and spoke about it a lot through tears.

But it wasn't over yet because she had to overcome another challenge.

Looking at herself in the mirror was something she struggled with immensely because she didn't recognise her reflection.

'It's a shocking state to see yourself in. Imagine you've just given birth, you can't hold your baby, can barely move, your body has a lot of fluid retention so you're puffy and your hands look like sausages,' she said.

'My husband had to help me shower and I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. I had to remember this is not who I am.'

Following the horrific ordeal Edna wasted no time getting back to work and was answering emails 10 days later. 

She recovered and took it easy for six weeks. 

Following the horrific ordeal Edna wasted no time getting back to work and was answering emails 10 days later. But she was still recovering and taking it easy for six weeks. 'Business was my first baby and I couldn't wait to go back to work,' she said 

'Business was my first baby and I couldn't wait to go back to work,' she said.

The time since has been marked by remarkable business success.

Three months after the birth, the brand recently turned over $264,000 in five hours - largely thanks to the launch of a new moisturiser, known as Day Hydrate.

That was largely thanks to the launch of a new moisturiser, known as Day Hydrate.

Now the Kiwi brand has a loyal following of thousands of people who boast about the buys on social media.

But the memories of Edna's birth experience continues to influence her in other ways. She doesn't think she will have any more children. 

'I've always been a "one and done" kind of person, and I think I'm definitely done,' Edna said. 

This decision wasn't just shaped by the traumatic birth experience but because of other factors too - including stress, finances, and how the world is a 'messed up place' to bring children into. 

'Our beautiful son is perfect and I don't see us expanding our family - but who knows what will happen in the future.'