Pregnancy and Birth I want to get pregnant! Pregnant? Pregnant! Unwanted pregnancy? Public information centres Prenatal care Antenatal classes Where to give birth? Premature birth Expecting twins or multiple births Baby blues and postpartum depression Helpline "Familystart" Breast feeding counselling Baby massage Infant health-care centres Baby swimming Our child is different Children with disabilities Family centres Mother/father-baby groups Second hand baby clothes and accessories Some children «just happen», others are carefully planned. Some couples desperately long for a baby but can’t get pregnant, others are afraid to take on the responsibility for a child. There are unwanted teenage pregnancies, and there is unwanted childlessness. These factors influence how parents feel about pregnancy and children. Today, many couples try to plan a pregnancy carefully. But it isn’t always easy. It can take a while until IVF works and the woman finally gets over the critical first trimester. Pregnancy is a precious time in a couple’s life. There’s a whole new life to prepare for, and a new family member to welcome. Nowadays, most young people have never experienced the arrival of a child. A hundred years ago, young women learnt about pregnancy and childbirth from their mothers, aunts and older sisters. Today, we need special public-health nurses, evening classes and midwives to give advice. While it is important to recognize the challenges, young people shouldn’t feel too anxious about becoming parents. When the baby is born, what young parents need most is good advice and support from family and professional carers. But no matter what everybody tells you: learn to trust your own instincts, too! Pregnancy and Birth I WANT TO GET PREGNANT! A woman can get pregnant approximately between the ages of 15 and 45. However, her chances vary within this reproductive phase. Biologically speaking, a woman has her «most fertile» years between 25 and 30. It is much harder to get pregnant after 40. Chromosomal deficiencies are more frequent in mature eggs, increasing the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. If you want to get pregnant, talk to your gynaecologist! Unfortunately, the desire for a child quite often remains unfulfilled. About one in six couples remain childless due to a fertility disorder in one of the partners. Check your fertility with your doctor or in a special clinic, even if this is not easy. Sometimes it helps to talk to a psychologist or counsellor. Obviously, a healthy and stress-free lifestyle will have a positive effect on your fertility. • Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrischer Dienst • Beratungsstelle Liestal, tel. 061 927 75 70 • Beratungsstelle Bruderholz, tel. 061 425 56 56 OFFICIAL INFORMATION CENTRES Apart from many medical questions, you may also have questions concerning your relationship, sexuality, money, employment law or maternity benefits. The canton BaselLandschaft runs two information centres that offer free and confidential advice. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Beratungsstellen für Schwangerschafts- und Beziehungsfragen • Liestal, tel. 061 921 60 13 • Binningen, tel. 061 413 24 00, www.bsb-bl.ch • Pregnancy counselling in hospitals • Liestal, tel. 061 925 22 03 • Bruderholz, tel. 061 436 21 92 LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.swissmom.ch > Kinderwunsch PRENATAL CARE • www.kinderwunsch.ch • www.familienplanung.de > Kinderwunsch • www.bzga.de > Key Topics > Sex Education and Family Planning • Understanding a miscarriage: • www.babycenter.ch > Trauer und Verlust > Fehlgeburt verstehen Read the sections «Foster Families» and «Adoptive Families» in the chapter on «All Kinds of Families». PREGNANT? PREGNANT! Are you pregnant? Congratulations! You are in for a wonderful adventure. Your body and soul are about to change, and life with your partner will never be the same again. A pregnancy raises many questions. Your gynaecologist or midwife has the answers to all the medical issues concerning you. If you are already thinking about where to give birth, attend the information events organised by hospitals, where you can even visit the delivery rooms. Most babies are born healthy. Still, it is wise to have the baby’s weight and position as well as the mother’s blood pressure checked regularly during the pregnancy. Ultrasound scans are also part of the regular check-ups. Apart from these routine checks, there are a number of other tests that are part of the prenatal diagnostics. Some of these tests may be useful, but please be aware that there are very few ways to influence the child’s development before it is born. Parents should consider very carefully which tests could be helpful for them, and what could be done for the unborn child if a defect is diagnosed. Prenatal diagnostics can cause a couple to consider terminating a pregnancy which they had fully supported up to this point. LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.praenatal-diagnostik.ch • www.swissmom.ch > Schwangerschaft > Medizinisches • www.babycenter.ch> Schwangerschaft > Schwangerschaftsvorsorge WHICH COSTS ARE COVERED BY YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE? UNWANTED PREGNANCY? Are you unsure about continuing or terminating the pregnancy? Such a decision is never taken lightly. In Switzerland, abortion is legal up to week 12 after your last period. If you are uncertain, there are several medical helplines and other psychological counselling services to help you come to a decision. Young women under 16 must see a counsellor or talk to someone at the «Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrischer Dienst» (Child and Youth Psychiatry Service). LINKS/ADDRESSES • Unwanted pregnancy? Information on counselling services in the canton Basel-Landschaft Leaflet in 11 languages: www.bl.ch > Volkswirtschafts- und Gesundheitsdirektion > Gesundheit (Bewilligungen, Publikationen) > Schwangerschaftsabbruch (11 Sprachen) The mandatory basic health insurance will fully cover the routine checks during pregnancy and the cost of giving birth. There is no co-pay («Selbstbehalt») for these services.. Your insurance will also pay a contribution to an antenatal class. It is up to you to choose the place where you want to give birth: at a hospital, a birthing home or at home. After giving birth, your insurance will cover postnatal care and contribute to breastfeeding counselling. If you stay at the hospital after the birth, the baby’s stay is also covered by your insurance. You will find all the mandatory services in the Federal Health-Care Benefits Ordinance. The Federal Office of Public Health or your personal health insurance will provide further information. LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.bag.admin.ch > Topics > Health insurance > Benefits > Maternity benefits Pregnancy and Birth ANTENATAL CLASSES The birth of a child is a unique and unforgettable experience for every mother and father. Many couples want to be well prepared and start thinking about it quite early. In antenatal classes, pregnant women get ready for the big moment physically and psychologically. These classes are also a good way to meet other prospective parents. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Antenatal classes and pregnancy exercises: www.geburt-bgb.ch • Antenatal classes in hospitals and clinics: www.geburt-sbg.ch • Baby care for prospective mothers, fathers, grandparents and day carers: www.srk-baselland.ch > Kurse > Familie und Kind WHERE TO GIVE BIRTH? Geburtshaus Basel, Schweizergasse 8, 4054 Basel, tel. 061 462 47 11 • www.geburtsstaette.ch Geburtshaus Tagmond, Hauptstrasse 26, 4133 Pratteln, tel. 061 823 10 10 • www.tagmond.ch Geburtshaus Rundum GmbH, Wahlenstrasse 70, 4242 Laufen, tel. 079 384 26 38 • www.geburtshausrundum.ch Geburtshaus der Ita Wegman Klinik, Pfeffingerweg 1, 4144 Arlesheim, tel. 061 705 72 46 • www.geburtshaus-iwk.ch Home Births You give birth to your child at home, with a midwife attending. LINKS/ADDRESSES In Switzerland, about 98% of all babies are born in hospitals, which provide the necessary medical equipment in case of an emergency. The remaining 2% are born at midwives’ homes, birthing homes or at home. Talk to your gynaecologist or your midwife and find out which place suits you best. You should start to think about where to give birth around the middle of the second trimester. Many hospitals organise free information events, where you can visit the delivery room and meet the staff. You don’t need to sign up for these information events, just check the dates with each hospital directly. Should you prefer a hospital or clinic outside your canton of residence, make sure you check with your health insurance whether the cost is covered. It is best to register your child for the mandatory basic and supplementary health insurance before the baby is born. • A list of freelance midwives in the Basel area is available here: tel. 061 702 07 60, and www.baslerhebamme.ch > Hebammensuche • The midwives of the Geburtshauses Tagmond will attend to you during a home birth: www.tagmond.ch > Angebote > Hausgeburt POSTNATAL CARE: PREMATURE BIRTH Parents of prematurely born babies can join the parents’ group of the Kinderklinik Bruderholz (UKBB), even if their baby was not born there. There are group meetings at Spitalstrasse 33, 4056 Basel once a month, where various issues are discussed. There is always a paediatric nurse present at the meetings. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Parents’ group of the Kinderklinik Bruderholz (UKBB): www.ukbb.ch > Eltern/Besucher > Weitere Dienstleistungen > Neonatologische Familienbegleitung There are several hospitals and birthing homes in Baselland and Basel-Stadt: • The Verein Känguru offers advice and support for parents of prematurely born children: www.fruehgeborene.ch Public Hospitals Kantonsspital Liestal with attending midwives, tel. 061 925 22 80 PARENTS OF TWINS AND MULTIPLE BIRTHS • www.ksli.ch > Frauen Kantonsspital Bruderholz, tel. 061 436 36 36 • www.bruderholzspital.ch > Patient > Fachbereiche > Frauenklinik Kantonsspital Laufen, tel. 061 765 34 85 • www.ksla.ch > Fachbereiche > Geburtshilfe Private Hospitals Ergolz-Klinik, 4410 Liestal, tel. 061 906 92 92 • www.ergolz-klinik.ch > Fachgebiete > Gynäkologie Birthing Homes Geburtshaus Ambra, Unterdorfstrasse 25, 4443 Wittlinsburg, tel. 062 299 29 29 • www.gebaeren.ch Twins are often said to be «as like as two peas in a pod.» However, identical twins are only half as frequent as nonidentical or dizygotic twins. Identical twins share the genetic material, whereas non-identical twins are no more similar than siblings of different ages. They can both be girls, or boys, or a boy and a girl. Life with twins or multiple births not only means double happiness, it also means a lot more work and requires even better planning. Don’t hesitate to ask your family and friends for support. A special magazine called «Multipack» offers useful and scientific articles for parents of twins and multiple births. In many cantons, there are clubs for parents of twins or multiple births. Pregnancy and Birth LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.twinmedia.ch • www.zwillinge.ch "Das doppelte Mäxchen", Edition Riedenburg, by Regina Masaracchia and Insa Wiegand BABY BLUES AND POSTNATAL DEPRESSION During pregnancy, the hormones in a woman’s body, such as progesterone and oestrogen, run wild. After giving birth, and after the placenta has been removed, the hormones drop back to normal within a few days. These rapid changes cause some strange behaviour in women. During the first few days after giving birth, crying fits are quite frequent – but nothing to worry about. 50-70% of all mothers get the «baby blues» during the first three to five days after giving birth. They are touchy and often sad. However, there are also cases of severe postnatal depression and psychosis, which are caused by a number of factors. Postnatal depression affects about 10% of all mothers, usually during the first few weeks or months after giving birth. Psychotherapy usually helps. Postnatal psychosis is very rare, only found in one or two of every 1000 births. If you suddenly feel like crying, don’t hold back. Sometimes it helps to talk to other mothers in the same situation. Find a self-help group or talk to your doctor or your midwife. LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.postnatale-depression.ch HELPLINE «FAMILYSTART» Due to the introduction of per-case flat rates, mothers and their newborn babies now stay in the hospital for no more than three to four days. To ensure that you continue to receive help and care when you are back home, we have established a telephone helpline: 0848 622 622. Every day of the year, from 8 am to 8 pm, forty experienced midwives are available to answer your questions about the health and care of mother and child. In some cases, the midwives may visit you in your home. They can also refer you to parent counselling services as well as medical providers. «FamilyStart» is a pilot project that is being supervised by several institutes of higher education, including the University of Basel. BREAST FEEDING COUNSELLING Midwives and nurses show young mothers how to breastfeed their babies right after giving birth. Your health insurance will also cover three sessions with the midwife or specialised nursing staff. You can find extra support and advice with «La Leche League». LINKS/ADDRESSES • La Leche League www.stillberatung.ch •BSS-Berufsverband Schweizerischer Stillberaterinnen www.stillen.ch > Adressen BABY MASSAGE Baby massage helps mothers bond with their babies, supports the baby’s wellbeing and strengthens its immune system, especially in the first six months. Baby massage classes are organised by the Red Cross and by freelance midwives. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Red Cross Baselland www.srk-baselland.ch > Kurse > Familie und Kind • Freelance midwives: www.baslerhebamme.ch > Ueber die Hebamme > Ergänzende Angebote INFANT HEALTH-CARE CENTRES Infant health-care centres offer on-site advice for parents with children up to the age of five years. Specialised public-health nurses can answer all questions regarding the physical, emotional and psychological development of the child and encourage mothers and fathers to trust their instincts as a parent. In Switzerland, there is an infant health-care centre open to all families in every municipality. The centres usually run a telephone service and operate at regular opening hours. Some nurses visit families at home or organise special classes. LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.muetterberatung-bl-bs.ch BABY SWIMMING Baby swimming is a recognized method of parent-child exercise for children between 3 and 24 months. Baby swimming stimulates the baby’s motor skills and social behaviour. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Schwimmverein beider Basel www.schwimmschulebasel.ch > Schwimmschule > Angebote > Schwimmkurse • H2O Wasser erleben AG www.wassererleben.ch > Baby-und-Kinderschwimmen OUR CHILD IS DIFFERENT Every child is different – an individual human being. There is a lot of literature about the different stages in a child’s development. But you should never forget that these are just guidelines. Your child will have its own pace and develop skills whenever it is ready for them. It will learn some things sooner and some things later than other children. Don’t let these differences unsettle you. If you worry about your child and would like a professional opinion, check with your public-health nurse or your paediatrician. LINKS/ADDRESSES • www.muetterberatung-bl-bs.ch • www.ebbl.ch Pregnancy and Birth • www.bsb-bl.ch • www.ptz-bl.ch MOTHER/FATHER-BABY GROUPS CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Mothers and fathers with babies up to one year meet regularly to share their experiences and get support from a public-health nurse. You have gone through months of joyous anticipation and a tiring birth. All you wanted was to hold your healthy baby in your arms. But now you learn that your baby has a disability. Only time will tell how your child will cope with his or her condition. You will probably ask yourself: «Why has this happened to me?» In most cases there is no clear answer. But one thing is certain: it is not your fault! You have a very special child now. It needs your love and affection as much as any child. And it will give you a lot of love in return. Your child is a gift – more than you can imagine in the beginning. Parents need time to come to terms with the fact that their child has been born with a disability. In this first phase, parents are very vulnerable and often withdraw from family and friends. But in fact, they need all the support they can get. Doctors, relatives and friends are indispensable. Parents’ groups are very helpful. Other more experienced parents in the same situation have a lot of useful information and provide social and emotional support. Of course, you will need special care and education for your child, but do not make hasty decisions. It is always good to get as much information as possible. You will learn to judge what is best for you and your child, and where to get the professional support that suits you best. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Beratungsstelle für Behinderte BL und Eltern von Kindern mit einer Behinderung Wiedenhubstrasse 57, 4410 Liestal, tel. 061 926 89 00, info@stiftungmosaik.ch • Insieme baselland, Im Dienste von Menschen mit einer Behinderung Fischmarkt 13, 4410 Liestal, tel. 061 923 98 93 www.insieme-bl.ch • Selbsthilfegruppen Zentrum Selbsthilfe Feldbergstrasse 55, 4057 Basel, tel. 061 689 90 90 www.zentrumselbsthilfe.ch > Selbsthilfegruppen > Themenliste FAMILY CENTRES Depending on the age of the children, families need different kinds of information or support. The «Familienund Begegnungszentren FAZ» in Baselland (family centres) offer a whole range of support. Parents and children can get together and discuss family issues. Professional support of all kinds is available at the family centre. It is a place where everybody helps each other. There are currently twelve family centres in Baselland, all run by «Elternbildung Baselland», which also organises informal parent-child get-togethers. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Elternbildung Baselland, Therwilerstr.11, 4103 Bottmingen tel. 061 421 23 71 www.ebbl.ch > Familienzentren LINKS/ADDRESSES • Elternbildung Baselland has information about all Mother/FatherBaby Groups tel. 061 421 23 71 www.ebbl.ch > Eltern-Kind-Gruppen SECOND HAND CHILDREN’S CLOTHES AND EQUIPMENT Small children grow so fast! It makes sense to shop in second hand stores and at special children’s yard sales. There are always nice clothes at good value. There are also useful online shops. LINKS/ADDRESSES • Brochure with second hand shops and yard sales for kids’ stuff, published by the Office of Environment and Energy BL To order: tel. 061 552 51 11 Download PDF: www.bl.ch > Bau Umwelt > Amt für Umweltschutz und Energie> Publikationen > Kinderkleider und Kinderartikel • www.ricardo.ch > Kaufen > Kind-&-Baby • www.liliput.ch > Kleinanzeigen