Switzerland has a considerable amount of effective postnatal care available to new mothers. Postnatal care in Switzerland is controlled by hospitals and combines regular midwife visits and educational classes in order to help couples adjust to their new lives and better care for their baby.
Postnatal care is covered completely by health insurance in Switzerland. This includes subsequent visits by a midwife up to 56 days after the birth. This applies to all mothers, including those covered by basic health insurance.
Illnesses that the baby contracts in the 12 days after your pregnancy ends are also covered by the health insurance of the mother, after which the baby must have their own health insurance. All procedures and consultations will be charged entirely to the health insurance provider, with deductions only payable for additional visits prescribed by a doctor.
The main benefit of postnatal care in Switzerland is regular visits from a midwife. If you have supplemental health insurance, this can be whoever you choose, but it is traditional to keep the midwife who was present while you were giving birth - this will almost certainly be the case if you have basic health insurance.
These visits are to ensure the good health of your child and to provide advice on how to care for them.
Some of the things that will be checked are:
More recently, a minimum number of visits by a midwife has been made mandatory by the government.
In most cases, the midwife will visit you and your child up to 10 times in the 56 days after birth. This can be extended to two visits a day if the midwife deems it necessary. The amount of time that the midwife will spend with you is solely dependent on your wishes and the needs of your child.
If you gave birth to multiple children, had a caesarean section, or are a first-time mother, the midwife may visit you up to 16 times during the first 56 days. In order to receive more visits, a medical prescription is required.
In addition to midwife visits, mothers in Switzerland are recommended to attend multiple consultations on breastfeeding a child. This is especially important for new mothers. Health insurance will pay for three classes on breastfeeding.
These are classes that help mothers who are breastfeeding for the first time. They can also help identify alternatives to breastfeeding if required. The courses are typically run by a midwife and can last for several hours. If you do not want to attend a consultation, it is recommended to seek a private lesson from a doctor or private company.
Postnatal classes are special types of classes that combine exercise and relaxation to help you recover physically, mentally and emotionally following the birth of a child. Techniques such as yoga or pilates are used to help you strengthen your pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles, reduce back pain and help you heal. Many classes will allow you to bring your baby along with you.
Depending on the type of health insurance policy you have, the cost of a postnatal class in Switzerland may be covered.
Once you have given birth, you will also need to go through some important administrative processes so that your child can become an official resident of Switzerland. Some of the things recommended to do are: