– I don’t like canceling, and at first I thought it could be done. But for those who have experienced the water breaking, you quickly realize that it’s not possible, laughs Anja Sønstevold, former national team player and Inter player.
The program hosts in Nitimen therefore had to throw themselves around when the surprising message came in just before the broadcast.
PROFILE: Anja Sønstevold pictured in connection with a broadcast on TV 2.
It was the same day that Inter was to meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final that Sønstevold and her good friend Andrine Hegerberg were to appear for an interview on the NRK program Nitimen.
They had a lot in common. Both have played for their respective final teams, Sønstevold for Inter and Hegerberg for PSG. In addition, both were pregnant, which would also become a topic.
But suddenly something happened at Sønstevold.
– Both of them are pregnant, and it was a couple of weeks before the due date and I thought it was going well. When I woke up, I realized that something had happened, and my water broke, Sønstevold tells NRK.
the water went
She therefore had to cancel the NRK program and was rushed to the hospital.
NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING: Ada Hegerberg, Andrine Hegerberg and Anja Sønstevold training with the national team in 2017.
– I don’t like canceling
Then only Hegerberg sat in the chair as a guest with presenters Karen Marie Berg and Shaun Henrik Matheson to talk about the final in Munich.
On the way to the hospital, they turned on Nitimen in the car. Then she had a good laugh – in the middle of the stressful situation.
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF: From 08.30 you will hear about the cancellation in Nitimen here.
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LISTEN FOR YOURSELF: From 08.30 you can hear about the cancellation in Nitimen here.
– Andrine is sitting here. Anja is not, because her water broke a couple of hours ago, said presenter Matheson on the air.
the water
He then referred to a text message from Sønstevold:
“Hi! Anja here. I’m sorry, but my water has broken. Unfortunately, I can’t come. Sorry.”
“Hi! Anja here. I’m sorry, but my water has broken. Unfortunately, I can’t come. Sorry.”
– I just had to laugh. I was going to Nitimen and was going to take over the house on Sunday, so I was hoping to get through the weekend, says a laughing Sønstevold.
The birth that had begun left its mark on the Nitime broadcast. Listeners were also encouraged to submit stories of when and how their births began.
GOOD MOOD: Thumbs up from the sickbed, even though the former Inter teammates lost the Champions League final.
– Oh my God, she’s crazy!
Sønstevold considered standing in Nitimen even after the water had broken. That made Karen Marie Berg open her eyes wide.
– That it works, oh my god, she’s crazy, says host Berg.
She adds that of course you shouldn’t feel guilty when something like that happens.
– It just shows that life cannot be planned, and at least not a birth.
The broadcast had to go on without Sønstevold, and Berg says it almost felt like Nitimen had taken part in a magical moment.
– It was absolutely fantastic. And it made for great radio!
VALID ABSENCE: Program manager at Nitimen, Karen Marie Berg, says that childbirth clearly falls into the category of “valid absence”.
Feeling lucky with a new family member
After the announcement on Nitimen, it wasn’t long before messages poured into various inboxes.
– Then you found out who was listening to Nitimen. There were parents and people who said that their mother had listened to Nitimen. People who were not even close to my age knew that the birth was in progress. It was surprising who I got messages from, because there were people I hadn’t spoken to in a while, says Sønstevold.
The former football profile emphasizes that Nitimen had asked if they could say the reason why she could not appear on the radio broadcast.
– It was the worst possible timing. But it turned out to be a funny story, emphasizes the former Inter player.
Sønstevold says that she gave birth to a little girl, who they believe will be named Lotta. Now into a new life where she is a mother of two with her partner Michelle Søderstrøm. They also have a son from before.
She says things went well from the moment the contractions started shortly after the Champions League final.
– It has gone very well. The birth was great, and I feel very lucky. When they ask how it was, I can hardly be completely honest, because it went so well, smiles Sønstevold, who currently works at Toppfotball Kvinner.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well for her beloved Inter, who lost the final 5–0.