Swiss Hospitals = No airconditioning?

Family, Education, Health and Pets
21
Bravo Sinab. I wonder how your husband would have felt if you'd chosen air con instead of him

22
Take a facial water spray (Evian and Vichy make them), sort out a fan and TRY to stop worrying. You'll be fine AC or not.

I gave birth last autumn and as it was a hot day I started off with the window in the delivery suite open. About half-way through, the midwife closed the window 'to warm up the room for the baby'. I was not amused but by the time the next contraction came I completely forgot about it.

Interestingly I was told to bring in my bag a thick warm pair of socks. Sure enough, the midwife insisted that I put them on as I reached transition and started to push. Never found out the reason behind this?!

Anyhow, good luck and don't stress yourself too much. I know it's difficult with all the hormones flying around but by the time you're holding that little bundle of fun in your arms you'll have forgotten it was even an issue.

23
He acted like it wouldn't have been a big deal but i knew he would have been disappointed if I decided to go to Canada. Besides, I can't stand being away from him for so long. I just thought to myself...would it be fair for me to go to Canada and have more support without my Husband....or would it be better to stay with my Husband and then go to Canada to show my baby off =) ....

24
Thanks! Great to hear from someone from Canada, that had their baby here.

What hospital did you choose? Are you in Zurich?

I had a look at Bethanien and have not yet seen Hirshlandin.

Let me know..

Thanks

25
How we ever made it out of the trees and to 7 billion people without the benefit clean a/c fitted hospitals is beyond me.

26

Sorry, I can't help you with the hospital decision. As my son was born in Bruderholz in BL. I actually thought that was a nice place. My son was the only baby born that day. Also just to let you know, I didn't look at other hospitals. The only time I went to the hospital was when my son was born. I also didn't take any courses. The nurse looked at me like I was crazy that I didn't take anything (being that he was my first) I just went with the flow and everything turned out great.

27
That's because babies that are born in July are conceived around October, when AC doesn't matter.

28
Some women get cold at this point - blood supply decreasing to the limbs, shivering, shock symptoms etc.

29
Congratulations to your pregnancy

I'm working as a birth doula in Zurich and trust me - heat is the least worry of alls during delivery... choose the hospital you feel most comfortable with and try to let go your fears concerning a/c. Aircon is just not common here, it's not worth installing it because the "hot" time of the year is so short. You'll survive with cold packs and it might even be that you'll have very cold feet during the birth and ask for an extra blanket.

Wishing you all the best

30
Also remember that you won't be wearing an awful lot in the delivery room - maximum a T-shirt, probably more like, well, nothing, or "airy" hospital gown.

When you're on the ward afterwards is probably when it will be most annoying. Just don't wear too much. A vest top and shorts or something light cotton is perfectly OK (and you'll probably be taking your top off every 5 minutes to feed the baby anyway.) A sarong is also a great Swiss-hospital accessory.

A lot of Swiss delivery rooms have water baths these days too - sitting in one of those at "blood temperature" (which is the hottest you're allowed) is very soothing when it's hot outside too.

I did get the freezing cold feet though (in a very hot June) and I wore my thick wooly socks first time round - if you have an epidural it's a common side effect. For my second delivery it was too fast to notice anything much, I couldn't tell you if it was hot or cold as I only just made it in time for the main event!