As far as I remember cut off was the 6mo pregancy mark. Maybe they extended it? I wouldn't chance to fly so late in pregnancy, the changes in atmospheric pressure are dangerous and definitely can induce labor. My dad flew with me once and had to resuscitate one lady on board since he is a doc, and she was not even pregnant, just had really low blood pressure. Contact the airline to see if they even let you, I agree.

Sorry, I missed this in your post too.

You won't get insurance from your employer, or at least its not the norm. 99%, probably 99.999% of Switzerland pays for its own health insurance. Packages for local hires in CH are very basic, salary, holiday, pension, maybe a train/bus travel card and that's about it.

If your hubby is being sent here it is worth checking what his employer is proposing.

In short: Private insurance in CH is about the same cost as in UK but (i) is mandatory, (ii) comes out of your salary and (iii) is not tax deductible.

Andy came back and confirmed

"Hi
you assume right!

Freundliche Grüsse
André Gérard Mattlé"

Which is, to remember the words of Nick Nolte in Thin Red Line - what I thought.

"No, sir. You're right... about everything you said.

Fine, fine. That's aII, Captain. One more thing, Staros. It's not necessary for you to ever teII me that you think I'm right.

Ever.

I'II assume it."

Not necessarily true -- my friend flew at 32 weeks from Los Angeles to Paris, France and had no issues and didn't need any doctor's note to go on the trip.

I also flew trans-Atlantic this year (departed Geneva when I was 32 weeks pregnant and returned a week later from Washington DC when I was 33 weeks) and had no problems. My doctor gave me an 'attestation' (certificate) stating that I had a low-risk pregnancy to take with me but no one on either side of the Atlantic said a word or asked for proof that my doctor okayed the travel.

Your airline will tell you how late you are allowed to fly...and you are best advised to have a recent letter from your doctor giving you 'approval' to fly...

I was asked to go to a conference in China from Australia and I would have been 34-36 weeks...Given that I measure 'enormous' I decided it wasn't wise - I'm sure I could have gotten out of Australia, but the biggest risk was not being allowed to get on the plane in China (especially since I looked enormous already at 30 weeks compared to Chinese standards)...and being stuck in China was not an option...

Dear All,

At the outset, I would like to thank each and everyone. This fourm has been excellent and has provided lot of information and guidance.
I am Kavi from India. My husband has been deputed to Zurich on a project basis and we will be moving to Zurich soon. I am into 1.5 months of pregnacy now. I need your suggestion and inputs in terms of delivering the baby in zurich.
We will get a medical insurance and that's accepted by UniversitätsSpital. But I would like to know the Quality and cost of service provided in this hospital. Also other pro's and con's.
Thanks in advance for your help

Regards,
Kavi

You can fly in the very late stages of pregnancy as long as you have a note from your doctor.

Many airlines don't want to take the risk in case you go into labour mid-flight and they have to re-route which costs an arm and a leg and is inconvenient.

Cabins are pressurised to well above the minimum and within a safe range for a pregnant woman so the risk is more for the airline than the pregnancy.

You are in more danger travelling up in the mountains above 2000 metres whilst pregnant.

That's very true, also depends on each indiviual pregnancy.

I was so nauseated the entire time, I wonder if it was smart changing the altitude by 1200m twice a day commuting to school on a train down and up the mountains, yuck.

No, it isn't recommended for any pregnancies where the normal place of residence is below altitude. Upper altitudes restrict oxygen supply to the foetus and can be harmful.

My doctor advised me not to travel to the higher parts of the Verbier resort (2000+ metres) whilst I was on holiday when I was pregnant as a general rule to eliminate any risks.

Of course, women who already live at high altitude and are acclimatised tend not to suffer from this although pregnancies at extreme altitude (such as up in the Andes) encounter more problems. I watched a recent documentary about a village in the Andes where the high miscarriage / infant mortality was found to be due to the amount of women living 3000 metres plus.

Yeah, I was not actually thinking the above 2000m conditions, since I think not that many people actually live that high here? My geography knowledge is rediculous.

I do know women that have no troubles flying later in preggo state, I was glad to make it at 6mo and it was unbelievable, staring on the carpet the entire time sucking on mint candy, but I could not even look outside of the car when being driven, so motion sick.

I do not think it's the high altitude women should be so concerned about here, it's more the really high percentage of premies, I think it's one of the top countries in Europe, if I remember well it was some recent study in Uni of GE, the prof was saying how people give smoking and drinking preggo women grief and do not realize how working hard till you drop and deliver affects the prematurity and low birth weight of babes. It's hard in such an expensive place, I do not think people are even aware of this risk and all the associated health consequences that premies deal with.

Hi there Everyone!
I am new to the Forum-just stumbled on it!
I have been here in ZH for a few years...do any of you ladies know of a good Female English-speaking Gynae that works in the Hirslanden Group?Thanks a stack!!!

I have just moved to France from the UK and find myself 14 weeks pregnant. My husband has just started working in Geneva and is awaiting for his frontalier in order for us to get health insurance. As I am new to the area and to the system I was recommended a gynaecologist associated to Hopital de la Tour which I presume is a private hospital and am now concerned that I wont be able to get adequate insurance to cover me for the costs. Also I was recommneded a health insurance company but it isnt one of the companies listed on the Hopital de la Tours website -would I still be covered?

I am really so confused by the whole thing and not speaking the language am really struggling to find comprehensive information surrounding the whole insurance/birth thing.

hi Kaths,

Check out the web site - www.comparis.ch
There is ample info about insurance under the relevant section.

You can ask the doctor at the hospital / clinic you want to go to whether your insurance cover it.

- Shreky

Hello all and thanks soo much for all the useful information. I have literally spent all morning reading these post. I would love to come in contact with anyone who has had a home birth in Zürich or gone to a Geburtshaus. If you have experienced either, please PM me and let me know about your experience Thanks again for all the useful info!

I looked into this, twice. I couldn't find a midwife that would do a home birth for first timer and the first had to be an uncomplicated delivery to be considered for your second. I got the birth I wanted by staying at home for my second labor and turned up at the hospital just to push 10 minutes after arriving, our daughter was born.

For the Geburtshaus, most insurances won't pay. The one I was looking at was around CHF 400 plus per day and was a long way from us. For my second, we wouldn't have made it there in time.

Hospitals scare me, but they were necessary when we needed 24 hour monitoring for infection and jaundice after the birth. You do get 5 days in hospital paid for by your insurance too.

I accompanied a friend who had a home birth (3rd child) in Canton Solothurn.

The birth went very quickly on an Easter Monday and, unfortuately, the midwife had problems getting her car started and was late. Before she arrived the baby's head was already out and I was left dithering whether to pull the rest of the child out or to wait till it slithered out itself. It looked dead to me and was highly relieved when the midwife arrived at the very last minute to take over.

Home births - always a bit of a risk in my opinion.

I thoght to ask here is the best. If not, please tell me.
We are expecting twins (such a funny thing is that we will be doubled in a day, at least it looks funny at this moment)
We live in Baselland and looking for the possible best place of delivering. Hospital or whatever, where they do have all the staff and stuff to support the delivery. We have a limitation by the insurance chosing only from Baselland hospitals. Anyone have experiences or recommendation?
Thanks for sharing with us

I went to Universtity hospital of Basel for my first delivery and I don't want to go there ever again. So this time, I am going to give birth in Bruderholz hospital in Baselland. I can't tell you myself but I have plenty of friends who went there to give birth (naturally or C-Section) and they are all very pleased with their experiences.

Thanks for the thoughts.
We also thought about it. I am mean we have no idea but somehow we thought it could be good. It belongs to the story that the some people from the uni spital also recommended the bruderholz. We just do not know if they can deal with the delivery of twins.
By the way, what is the C-Section? Sorry for being blond but I really do not know