Hi all, a colleague at work is having her first child in November and is looking for a good English speaking midwife in the Zürich See/ Zürich region. Can anyone recommend someone? If anyone has other useful tips for her, please feel free to share.

I know of many English-only speaking Mums who delivered in pleasure at Triemli.

I assume your knocked-up missus has an OBGYN here?

Hi Lob,
Yes she has an OBGYN but would appreciate contact with a midwife. Whilst the OBGYN is good, he takes a very medical approach (as expected) and I guess as it's her first pregnancy any more holistic approach would be appreciated.

Ummm I don't know much about how it works here - but isn't it that case that births are handled by the midwives anyway, and the doctor is only brought in if there is a complication? After all midwifery is a profession in itself, so it shouldn't necessarily be seen as "holistic" it's just part of the process.

Of course things may be totally different in CH!

I can only recommend perhaps calling the maternity at Triemli and getting a feel for it. Next time I see my buds-with-babies, I'll ask how they did it but I feel sure the recommendation came from the bloke who works "down there"....

I couldn't think of the German word for midwife so I looked it up and found these two: die Geburtshelferin and die Hebamme. Even more interesting was that there was entry for "midwife toad" - Die Geburtshelferkröte (Alytes obstetricans).

So far the OBGYN has been the only contact and has not recommended any other help/contacts etc, regarding nutrition, what to expect etc - I'll give her the Triemli tip, thanks for that.

Just giving this post a bump as it was posted a while ago & I wondered if anyone had any up to date recommendations on English Speaking MW's / OBGYN's.

I've just found out I'm expecting again - & going by the speed my last 2 delivered I need to plan a home birth which I know isn't as common here as in the UK but it's a case of being practical as I really don't think we'll stand much chance of getting to the hospital in time. Anyway... I'm hoping to find a friendly English speaking MW who is prepared to assist with home births.

We still live in the UK but will officially move in July (when I am 20 weeks and I'd rather not leave it until then to find contacts etc). We are here however for the next 3 weeks so I'd like to at least put feelers out IYKWIM.


Any advice welcome - thanks

Hi! There is a wonderful list at www.hebamme.ch and the midwives are listed by canton and city. They usually list their qualifications as well as their languages and any extra info there. I just E-mailed all of the Midwives in my area to see who would be free in April for my "wochenbett" since many go away for Easter.

Hi
I had my baby just 6 weeks ago and got a midwife afterwards from the Hebammenzentral (0900471109)... I called them and they sent me someone, which cost CHF30 for the service of them sending you the midwife.
My midwife was called Miriam Sarnecki and was wonderful! She taught me how to do baby massage on my little boy as well as all the standard midwife things. At the end of the sessions though, she then did a reflexology treatment on me, which was fabulous! After the 5 days which are covered by the insurance, we are continuing to have Miriam come to see us every other week, just for reassuance that everything's ok as we don't have any family here. (We're paying for this privately as we were so pleased with Miriam).
After you have got out of hospital, there is a Mutter/Vaterberatung which is where you go to have your baby weighed each week and there's a paediatric nurse there too to answer any questions you may have. At our local one, you can also stay for a cuppa to meet other mums in your area... a great way to get to know some others in your position.

Hope all's going well with your pregnancy,
Gillian

Thanks to both of you for all the info - Miriam sounds fab I'll have to check if she covers my area.

It's all a bit daunting to be honest at the moment & very early days but I'm the sort of person who likes to plan ahead and I can't just leave things - also think it will help to give info to the MW back home when I see her.

Thanks again :-)

Hi, my midwife, is at the birthing house in Bäretswil,
http://www.geburtshaus-zho.ch
Her name is Beatrix, though many of the midwives there do speak English. Give them a call or go to visit, its a wonderful place, and the midwives are even more wonderful.

May I suggest you look up the New Stork Times ?
Seriously, I do not know how I would have made it without the wonderful help I found there.
You'll get all the help you need in English.