does basic health insurance cover expenses for having hebamme?

If yes, how many times of hebamme visits can it cover? do I need to pay part of the expenses or the insurance company would pay all of it?

I just had a baby. some friend told me that the basic insurance can cover hebamme expenses for 8 times visit. I dont know whether it true or not, and whether I would pay part of the expenses.

Thanks.

As far as I can remember Basic insurance pays for 10 visits minus the number of nights you spent in hospital (eg 1 night in hospital + 9 hebamme visits, 5 nights in hospital + 5 hebamme visits). The visits are supposed to be on consecutive days but most hebammes spread them out a bit over the first couple of weeks if you prefer.

I'm pretty sure this is not included in your franchise so you won't have to pay anything (but don't quote me on that -can someone else please confirm).

Saharanz is correct. 10 visits (including hospital stay) are fully covered by basic health insurance.

just wanted to add that the visits need to be within the first 10 days of your baby being born, although the midwife can "adjust" the dates if needed.

My midwife is 'adjusting' the dates for me and also adding 3 extra days on for breast feeding advice, you are allowed 'I think' 3 breast feeding visits

you can search for a midwife here

http://www.hebammensuche.ch

Hi ladies

Does anyone know if I am supposed to arrange my birthing mid-wife prior to giving birth (ie. the midwife who will assist the doctor during the birth)?? I thought that the hebamme assistance was for helping me after the birth and the hospital would arrange a mid-wife for during the birth, but I have heard some conflicting information and am now totally confused

Thanks!

Hello Magpie

I only arranged my mid-wife (the one to come over to my house) after the birth. The one's who assisted the doctor are employees of the hospital where my doctor works.
There is a telephone number for the midwives in Zurich that you can call and they will arrange for someone who lives in your area to come and see you when you are at home. I found this website: http://www.hebamme.ch/de/elt/heb/dir.cfm?md=kt&kt=zh. Maybe just check with your gynae, he/she will be abel to point you in the right direction.

Would someone mind explaining what exactly a midwife does? I'm due to have my first baby (by C-section) in October, and I have no idea if I should get a midwife. I tried to ask my doctor about it, but she is always really rushed during our appointments and when I did ask her, she said it was too early to start talking about that.

P.S. To the OP... I sincerely apologize if you'd rather that I hadn't posted my question in your thread.

Cor Blimey. Looks a bit complicated getting a midwife in Switzerland. And expensive. Thank god for the NHS, well, at least for the moment.

Me mam's a midwife, and used to discuss her daily duties at the dinner table, much to my father's shagrin (is this the right word DB?), so I know more than I'd like about what a midwife - well, my mum anyway - does. It's an awful lot more than I do in my job, I can tell you that. If no-one else answers this, I'll give it a bash - tho it may take a while to write on account of there being so much to describe. Antenatals and postnatels seem to be much of it, along with delivering babies and supporting breatfeeding, aquanatals, birthplan etc.

I only hesitate cos it might differ in switzerland. But if you're about to have a baby and you don't know what a midwife does - well, I feel sorry for you anyway. Hope it all goes well.

Personally I wouldn't let a quack within ten miles of any woman that was about to have my baby - it'd be like getting your private jet serviced by a car mechanic.

I tried searching online but couldn't really find much information. Most of what I found said that they help with the actual birth but that they can't help with C-sections. So I wasn't sure if I should consider getting one, since I'll be having a C-section. But I think it's great if Swiss insurance companies help pay for them. (I'm not sure if that's the case in the US).

You may wish to change your gynae.. I would not put up with that rushed attitude from my doctor. This is a very special time in your life and you need a doctor who sees it that way too.

You will have access to midwives in the hospital during your stay and when you return home, you may request to have one visit you at home. It's very helpful in that they can assist you with any questions and concerns you may have. Mine wasn't very good but I know of other mothers here in Zurich who were very happy with theirs.

Hi,
I had a C-section (not planned) in Triemli hospital (Zurich) earlier this year. The midwife will look after you and answer all your questions until the birth and will then clean and look after the baby until you or your husband take it. During your stay in hospital their are various midwives and nursing staff who will help to show you how to look after your baby and how to breast feed.
When you get home there will most likely be more questions and possible more help needed (in my case with breast feeding). I had arranged for a midwife to come and visit me in my home after the hospital stay. She helped with feeding and weighed my baby and answered any questions. In my case was very very helpful as I had no family to help out and no friends with babies to give me advice. I even phoned early one morning in a panic and she came to help out.
When I left the hospital the doctor who discharged me gave me a 'prescription' for any visits from the midwife which continued more than the 10days. I had 5 days in hospital and 7 visits from the midwife so the 'prescription' covered the extra 2 visits on top of the 10 which are covered by all basic health insurances.
PM me if you want any further information

Yeah, I've wondered that, too (if I should change doctors). It's currently the Frauenklinik right in Uster Hospital. I guess I went there when I thought I was pregnant because I was going there already due to some problems with myoms (hence, the need for a C-section). And so I just stayed. But they only allow the doctor 20 minutes for each of my monthly appointments/ultra-sounds. And my doctor apologized to me for seeming rushed (and explained that is why). But I do feel that they have good equipment there and are experience in dealing with my type of situation, etc. so I've been hesitant to change.

I see...
*sigh*..it blows being a foreigner sometimes. Back home it would be so much easier!
If you feel confident and comfortable there then it's the best choice indeed for you. Sweet Svenka has offered to help you out via pm and I'm here too.
Very cool that your doc has apologized to you and explained why it's so rushed there.

Thanks for the info everyone

Midwives don't just deliver babies; they deal with all aspects of ante and post natel care, including assisting with breastfeeding, which is of course extremely important and been proved by hundreds of independant studies time and time again to have a huge influence on your child's physical and mental health, social aptitude and academic and personal success, not to mention happiness and well being.

Midwives are specialists who spend seven years training and then a lifetime working with pregnant mothers and young babies. If I was having another baby, I'd take the advice and care of an experienced midwife over a doctor any day of the week.

But hey, I guess I'm biased.

Can anyone recommend a hebammen they had a good experience with in Zurich city (or close to kreis 6)....someone who 's both good and who was happy to 'adjust' the dates of the visit so they don't all need to be consecutive? Many thanks in advance