Clinic Bethanien - Maternity

With the birth of your child you are starting a new and important phase of your life. In the area of obstetrics Privatklinik Bethanien has a concept that is unique in Switzerland and is tailored precisely to your needs.

During these eventful days and hours before, during and after the birth, you will be comprehensively cared for by extremely skilled and caring midwives and lactation consultants, whose passion is to help give both the Little Diamonds and their mothers a good start. A gynaecologist accompanies and helps you during the birth, ensuring highly professional and optimum medical care.

The modernised Maternity at Privatklinik Bethanien is currently very popular among mothers and families from the immediate vicinity on the Zürichberg hill and the surrounding districts, and also among foreign patients who want to have their baby in Switzerland. At the moment over 450 women give birth in the private ambience of Privatklinik Bethanien each year.

COURSES:

INFORMATION EVENINGS

Mothers and fathers to be are warmly invited! At our information evenings we show you our maternity and family unit and tell you about:

• the courses we have on offer
• the support and advice we offer
• the different birthing options
• support for the family during the confinement

ANTENATAL PREPARATION FOR WOMEN

The experience of pregnancy, preparing for the birth and the new role as mother and parent are the themes covered in the antenatal course for women. The course offers the opportunity

• to obtain accurate information about pregnancy and giving birth
• to gain confidence in your own ability to give birth by learning breathing and relaxation exercises
• to determine the role of the partner (or accompanying person) during birth and the first 24 hours with your child
• two evenings with your partner (or accompanying person) and a further three evenings for women
• we recommend starting the course in about the 24th to 30th week of pregnancy

ANTENATAL PREPARATION FOR COUPLES AT THE WEEKEND

The joint experience of pregnancy, the preparation for the birth and the new role as parents are the topics covered in the antenatal course for couples. The course offers the opportunity:

• to obtain accurate information about pregnancy and giving birth
• to gain confidence in your own ability to give birth by learning breathing and relaxation exercises
• to get into the right frame of mind as partner (or accompanying person) for your role during the birth and the first 24 hours with your child
• to take time for each other as a “pregnant couple”

We recommend starting the course in about the 24th to 30th week of pregnancy

PARENTCRAFT CLASSES (IN ENGLISH)

This course is especially designed for couples who want to take the opportunity to understand more about the wonders of pregnancy and the experience of labour. The course covers a wide range of topics including:

• Changes in pregnancy, embracing changes to the partnership and preparing for parenting
• Increase your self-confidence and reduce anxiety by understanding the different stages of labour
• Relaxation and breathing techniques designed to help you cope with labour
• Pain relief including both natural and medical forms
• The role of the partner during labour
• Preparation for your new role as parents (baby care, safety and breastfeeding tips and tricks)

PREGNANCY YOGA

The course is oriented to women who would like to stay active and their own person during pregnancy (previous experience not necessary). We recommend starting from the 16th week of pregnancy, although you need to register in good time.The course offers the opportunity:

• to step out of the everyday hustle and bustle, to give the pregnancy space, to seek out your own feelings and wishes and to embrace your growing child
• to consciously strengthen your body with practical yoga exercises, to relieve thediscomforts of pregnancy and to promote vitality
• to increase awareness of your body through breathing and relaxation and to exchange ideas with other pregnant women

ANTENATAL ACUPUNCTURE

Antenatal acupuncture is suitable for all healthy pregnant women, in order to shorten labour by an average of two hours (statistically proven for first-time mothers by a study at University Hospital Mannheim).

Acupuncture causes the cervix to mature and we start this measure in preparation for the birth from the 36th week of pregnancy. Acupuncture is not possible for multiple pregnancies (twins) or for breach presentation.

If you have any complications during pregnancy or any preexisting illnesses, the attending physician must be consulted and agree to the acupuncture. A maximum of three to five sessions once a week is recommended.

ALL ABOUT THE NEWBORN CHILD

This course is not about making babies but what to do when they arrive. The course offers the opportunity:

• to find out about baby’s layette and care products
• to practise caring for your baby on dolls
• to learn how to get to know and understand the needs of a new-born
• to think about becoming a parent and a family of three for the first time
• to experience something of the development in the first year

ADVICE ON BREASTFEEDING

During your pregnancy, your confinement and as an outpatient after you leave the clinic we offer you support and assistance in order to overcome any difficulties with breastfeeding. Skilled and kind assistance if you decide not to breastfeed or to wean the child is just as important. What opportunities does lactation counselling offer you?

• We are there for you if you have any questions about feeding your child
• In a one-to-one conversation there is the opportunity to analyse your situation
• Would you like to breastfeed? Or would you prefer not to? In either case we will assist you with our specialist knowledge
• Contact us while you are pregnant if you have any questions or had negative breastfeeding experiences with your first child
• Low level laser therapy

INVOLUTION

The course is oriented to women who have been mothers for some time (at least six weeks). They can do something for themselves and their wellbeing, while still looking after their baby. The course is made up of the following topics:

• relaxation and breathing
• involution of the pelvic floor muscles and muscles of the abdomen
• awareness of body and posture in everyday life
• exchange of experience as woman and mother

MOVEMENT GAMES IN THE FIRST YEAR ON THE PEKIP MODEL (PRAGER PARENT CHILD PROGRAMME)

The course is for parents and their baby from eight weeks until they can walk. It gives suggestions for play, movement and the senses, and is an accompaniment to development in the first year, but any form of pressure or obligation is consciously avoided. Thus every development phase becomes a more conscious experience. In a group situation the child has the opportunity to gain their first experiences with children of the same age and to have fun. The adults can exchange experiences, discuss important topics relating to their child, and parents are encouraged to recognise and expand their own skills.

BABY MASSAGE

Loving affection and body contact are important basic elements for the healthy development of your child. A massage can help the child to become aware of his skin and so to sense his environment. The skin is our largest sensory organ. In addition the massage is fun for parents and child. Fathers also see it as a wonderful opportunity to intensify contact with their baby. By touching the skin all the vital body systems (such as breathing, circulation, digestion, nerve andmuscle tissue) are stimulated and harmonised in a natural way. Baby massage is aimed at parents with babies from about three weeks old to the age when they start to crawl (about seven months).

BABY SWIMMING

Together with H2O Wasser erleben AG,we offer swimming courses for babies with their parents under the name H2O-Baby Fun. The team is made up of specifically trained swimming instructors. Babies can join in from ten weeks to around two years old – divided into appropriate age groups of course.

We guarantee that you will be participating in a high quality course, because H2O Wasser erleben AG have been running professional baby swimming courses in various Swiss hospitals for many years.

BABY SLING COURSE

Why it is sensible and a good idea to carry the baby next to your body and equally important to use the slingcorrectly. Being carried is the very first experience the baby has, in its mother’s womb. If the mother or the father carries the child after it has been born too, this close bond continues. The child receives physical and mental stability, which creates the bonding.

Most babies are overtaxed with the many impressions and new experiences, so they cry frequently or are permanently unsettled. Being in a sling next to your body often calms them down. Being carried activates the sense of balance, stimulates the senses and promotes the development of the child.

HIGH QUALITY FEEL-GOOD AMBIENCE THROUGH MODERNISATION

In order to continue to meet the sophisticated requirements of our local and international partners in the future too, the Maternity has been completely modernised. The rooms for postpartum women have been redesigned to a high standard in warm colours, so that you and your family almost feel as if you were at home during your stay. Fathers have the opportunity to experience the first few days together with mother and child in Privatklinik Bethanien. In addition the birthing rooms have been refitted with luxurious baths and state-of-the-art delivery beds, so that we can offer a wide range of birthing options.

FIRST-CLASS PHYSICANS AND MIDWIVES PROVIDE SAFETY

Each birth is unique. A well-coordinated team of midwives, gynaecologists, paediatricians and anaesthetists ensure your safety and reassurance. The Maternity at Privatklinik Bethanien stands out because the 17 beds are exclusively and comprehensively looked after by 17 caring, highly-qualified midwives. Qualified gynaecologists are on hand to accompany and support them. There is also an excellent paedatrician available every day. All forms of pain relief are provided, from acupuncture, homeopathy and aromatherapy through to different forms of local anaesthetic. So we guarantee optimum medical support and safety at the highest level.

PERSONAL CARE COMPLETELY COORDINATED WITH THE PATIENT’S WISHES

In Privatklinik Bethanien we look at the personal situation and the wishes of the mother to be at a completely individual level. She will be cared for only by midwives both during the birth, when she will receive one-to-one care, and during her confinement. This ensures not only highly professional but also very individual, personal care.

BONDING BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD HAS TOP PRIORITY

This is not just the case with natural births. Even if she has a Caesarean section, the mother will be supported by a midwife in addition to thephysician responsible. This makes bonding between mother and child possible with every kind of birth. The unforgettable moment when the mother takes her baby in her arms for the first time and strokes its skin has top priority at Privatklinik Bethanien.

RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL COURSES, ADVISORY SERVICES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

In addition, the Maternity at Privatklinik Bethanien differentiates itself from its competitors through the complete involvement of the mothers. They are prepared individually for their stay while still at home. Instructions on caring for new-borns, e.g. bathing and changing nappies, are given individually. Breastfeeding advice is offered not just before and during the stay, but also at any time afterwards, either by telephone or as an outpatient. With low-level laser therapy, acupuncture and homeopathy, the family therapy offers various alternative treatment options to classic mainstream medicine. The courses on offer before and after the birth are exceptional thanks to their diversity, and range from traditional antenatal classes in German and English, yoga, movement games and courses on baby slings, to baby massage and baby swimming courses.