We have listed our information evenings under Events & Courses. This always takes place on the first Wednesday of the month at 6.00 pm.
FAQs Pregnancy & birth
FAQs on the topic of pregnancy
What do I need to think about and when? Which documents do I need to submit where and when and what options do I have to find out about the issues that are important to me during my pregnancy?
We have summarised the most important information for you.
Have we forgotten anything? Contact us - we will be happy to help you.
Yes, we also offer programmes for expectant parents in English.
Yes, we do offer informations evenings for english speaking parents and birth preparation courses.
We are pleased to offer you the following additional options:
Please inform yourself about our extensive range of courses for pregnant women, parents and children on our Courses & Events page.
Your doctor will register you for hospitalisation.
Before the birth, it is important to give some thought to your expectations regarding your
Stay with us at Bethesda Hospital. So that we can respond to your wishes and concerns as well as possible during the birth and in the postnatal period, you are asked to submit these to us in advance using a check-in online form.
Please also discuss your wishes and ideas with your gynaecologist in advance and bring your blood group card, maternity pass, vaccination booklet and all laboratory results from your pregnancy with you to the birth.
Our midwives are at your disposal daily from (14.00 to 16.00)
For a harmonious stay together with lots of closeness to your baby and your partner, we offer you attractive room offers.
Yes, our anaesthesia team can take care of your pain therapy more quickly and efficiently should you need it.
If possible, the expectant parents should have chosen a paediatrician before their stay in hospital.
Newborns are examined by one of our paediatricians on duty after birth.
We have compiled the essential information for the time after the birth and at home for you on our website.
At Bethesda Hospital, we offer you a variety of birthing options that is unique in the region. You have the choice between various options. You can also put together your own personalised birthing team for your care. Our combination of the advantages of a traditional inpatient hospital and the benefits of our clinics run by head physicians offers you flexible and individualised options. No matter which option you choose, we are here for you with joy and commitment to make your birth experience special.
In addition to the other FAQs, you can find more information about the birth under the following links
The birth is about to start - what to do?
The birth begins. Suddenly you've forgotten everything.
Here are the most important answers to the most burning questions.
Contact us before your admission:
- in case of regular, painful contractions
- in case of amniotic fluid leakage
- in case of vaginal bleeding
- in case of uncertainty
Phone: +41 61 315 22 22
Please call us before you come in: Tel.: +41 61 315 22 23
The midwife will carry out an initial examination at reception: The baby is checked for heartbeat, position and size. The birth process is then assessed. We take time to listen to your wishes and needs and discuss the next steps leading up to the birth. The doctor will come to the birth if necessary.
Ideally, the birth bag should be packed three weeks before the due date.
This way, you can come to us at the start of labour in a relaxed manner.
We have put together a birth checklist for the birth and the postnatal period.
The baby's initial equipment during the hospital stay is taken care of.
- Homeopathy, acupuncture
- Exercise
- Massages
- Relaxation bath
- Pain medication
- Peridural anaesthesia (PDA)
- Walking PDA
With us you can choose between
- Water birth
- Stool
- Standing
- Kneeling
- various positions in bed
- A caesarean section can be performed 24 hours a day
- The caesarean section takes place in the operating theatre, right next to the maternity ward
- The midwife accompanies the family
- The expectant father or another accompanying person can be present
- Even after a caesarean section, the baby is immediately placed on the mother's breast. This is known as bonding (skin-to-skin contact)
FAQs on the topic of the postpartum period
What do I need to consider after the birth and how does the registration of my child at the registry office work? Here are the most important answers to your questions.
In co-operation with BabyCute, we are giving you the gift of a professional newborn photo shoot at Bethesda Hospital.
The invoice will be sent directly to your health insurance fund or insurance company if we have received a corresponding cost approval.
Outstanding invoices for private expenses (telephone, TV, drinks, visitor catering, upgrade to another room category, etc.) must be paid directly to Room Service on the day of departure.
The doctor will determine the day of discharge with you.
For organisational reasons, you must be discharged from hospital by 11 am
FAQs - Back at home
The postpartum period should live up to its name. But unfortunately, everyday life returns all too quickly and new questions arise. How does the postnatal period work and do I have any questions about breastfeeding?
We have prepared the most important information and offers for you.
Have we forgotten anything? Contact us - we will be happy to help you.
We want to continuously improve our service for you. Thank you for informing us of your satisfaction or any complaints you may have.
After the birth, your newborn child is registered directly at the Basel-Stadt registry office - even for people who live outside the canton of Basel-Stadt.
All relevant information can be found on the website of the Basel-Stadt Civil Registry Office.
FAQs about the PDA
We have compiled the most frequently asked questions about the epidural, answered by our medical experts.
Do you have any other questions that are not answered here? Please feel free to contact us - we will be happy to help you.
Peridural anaesthesia or epidural anaesthesia (PDA or EDA for short) is an anaesthetic procedure from the field of regional anaesthesia.
Thanks to its effective pain relief, epidural anaesthesia has proven to be particularly effective during childbirth. Here we are talking about an obstetric epidural.
First, the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the lower back are anaesthetised using a local anaesthetic. The epidural space is then located between two processes of the lumbar vertebrae using a hollow needle and a thin plastic tube (catheter) is inserted.
A pump with a drug reservoir is connected to the catheter. Small amounts of anaesthetic are automatically applied to the spinal nerve roots in the epidural space at regular intervals. You can also operate the pump yourself at the touch of a button to adjust the dose to your own requirements (patient-controlled epidural anaesthesia PCEA). A safety device prevents overdosing.
The dosage of medication is selected so that the labour pain is almost eliminated, but you can still move your legs and walk around with some support ("walking epidural").
An epidural that is already in place can also be used for partial anaesthesia if a caesarean section is necessary.
The epidural is considered to be the most effective method of pain relief during labour.
As a pregnant woman, you can choose from a wide range of pain-relieving measures even before the birth. The spinal anaesthetic procedure of epidural anaesthesia is the most effective type of treatment, which is why we would like to provide you with special information about it. Nevertheless, you should have a personal consultation with your midwife or gynaecologist. Or contact one of our experienced anaesthetists directly during our consultation hours at the Department of Anaesthesiology. Our specialists at Bethesda will be happy to answer any questions you may have about pain relief during labour.
No medical procedure is completely free of side effects, risks and complications. At Bethesda Hospital, we work with the utmost care and have decades of experience in this field. Most women tolerate an epidural very well and only very rarely experience side effects.
Possible side effects, risks and complications of an epidural could be:
- The most common side effects include a feeling of warmth, trembling, tingling, itching and a drop in blood pressure.
- Muscle weakness in the lower half of the body is possible, which can restrict walking and occasionally also the strength to push. In rare cases, the delivery must be assisted with a suction cup or obstetric forceps.
- incomplete / one-sided effect of the anaesthetic
- occasional headaches when getting up after the birth
- temporary disturbance of bladder emptying during the application of the anaesthetic via the epidural
- very rarely infections, temporary sensory disturbances or nerve injuries
The aim of an obstetric epidural is to make the birth as pain-free as possible. Every woman experiences a birth differently and the sensation of pain is very individual.
An epidural is the most effective method for a largely pain-free labour. If the effect is insufficient, there are ways to optimise the desired effect for you.
We use a combination of an opiate and a local anaesthetic (fentanyl and bupivacaine). This is a low-dose combination of active ingredients with the aim of achieving freedom from pain while maintaining freedom of movement.
A pain-free birth is possible with the help of an epidural.
The epidural is the most effective method of obstetric pain therapy.
Nevertheless, we refer you to a selection of possible alternatives that you can discuss with your gynaecologist and midwife: These include walking, exercising, sitting on an exercise ball or stool, changing position, back massage, targeted breathing techniques, foot reflexology, the versatile methods of naturopathy and homeopathy, acupuncture or acupressure. Stimulation of skin nerves in the lower back area (TENS) can also occasionally help.
Warm water can also have a pain-relieving effect - this can be very comfortable for a birth in the birthing tub. Antispasmodics (spasmolytics) can relieve labour pain to a limited extent. A local anaesthetic is recommended for the final phase of labour and for vaginal surgery (use of a suction cup or forceps), as well as for suturing any injury to the vagina or perineum. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have in a personal consultation.
FAQs on the subject of family rooms / single rooms
What exactly can I expect in a family or single room?
We have summarised the most important information for you.
Have we forgotten anything? Contact us - we will be happy to help you.
The single room is significantly larger than the family room. Accordingly, the single room is also more expensive.
Availability is only apparent at the time of entry and can only be guaranteed from that moment.
A single room or family room is charged from the time of admission to hospital and for the entire duration of your stay, even if you have to stay overnight in the birthing room.
Should it become necessary due to the occupancy situation, the hospital is entitled to cancel your reservation for the single room or family room at any time during your stay.
The family room is only available to the woman who has recently given birth, the newborn and the father. Unfortunately, siblings cannot be cared for.
No. The family room is reserved for mother, child and partner. If you would like the advantages of a single room, we recommend an upgrade to a single room.
No, in the family room you are all to yourself.
Yes, please note that only one adult of your choice may stay overnight with you and the newborn. We do not offer care for siblings.
Yes, breakfast for the accompanying person in the family room is included in the price. Additional meals and drinks can of course be ordered for an extra charge.
Yes, this is possible for an additional charge.
Your advantages at Bethesda Hospital
We provide interdisciplinary excellence in medicine, care and therapy, promote innovation and are at the cutting edge of research and technology. Personalised care in a family atmosphere, our excellent hotel facilities and the quiet location in the park support your recovery.
