On Saturday, Coco and I went to see the newly remodeled birthing wing at Klinik Im Park, where she was born. It was absolutely gorgeous and so incredibly chic! It actually made me really excited to have our next baby. Seriously. I'll be so excited to give birth again!
Klinik Im Park is part of Hirslanden, a group of private hospitals around Switzerland. I have a supplementary insurance plan (on top of my basic health insurance required by Swiss law) that covers private hospitals. The plan I have was raised to about $100 per month in 2013, but in 11-12, I paid around $85 per month. It's a Semi-Private plan. That means I can go to a private hospital, but I don't get my own room; I share with one other person as opposed to four as is standard in the general wards of regular hospitals. Going to a private hospital has pros and cons. When I wanted an epidural, I didn't have to wait - which they guarantee at Klinik Im Park. On the other hand, I have friends who waited two hours or more in the regular hospitals! But, they got through it. :) Hirslanden had absolutely amazing food, high thread-count sheets and a complimentary champagne dinner for J and I on our last night. It is luxurious and more like a five-star hotel than a hospital. But that has its drawbacks. It doesn't feel like a normal hospital because it's not a normal hospital. If something goes wrong, chances are they will have to transfer you (or your baby) to another hospital. That said, my experience giving birth was amazing at Klinik Im Park and I'll definitely go back. But not for a while. Don't get any ideas! ;)
Each of the birth rooms has an LED light installation on the wall. It's not so much for the mother, who couldn't care less about twinkling lights during labor, but for the father. It's relaxing and soothing and meant to bring calm to the nervous daddy.
I loved the combination of pure white light and soft wood. It is serene and minimalist and perfect for setting the mood of peace in order to cope with the intensity of labor.
Each of the rooms has its own birthing tub, as well as various birthing stools and instruments for support. The midwives at Klinik Im Park are amazing and so knowledgable to help you through labor. They also offer aromatherapy, acupuncture and massage to help women through labor. I know to some people it must seem crazy to look forward to giving birth again, but I honestly look forward to having that incredible experience again. What a beautiful job they've done on the maternity center. It is gorgeous!
Wow, looks very different!! Kinda makes me wish #2 was going to be born in Switzerland instead! Did they update the Wochenbett rooms too?
ReplyDeleteYep! It's so chic. I couldn't believe my eyes. And I thought it was pretty nice before...;) The Wochenbett rooms are the same. But maybe they're next? I hope so!
DeletePS - Is number 2 in the works? :)
DeleteBaby #2 is already half-baked!!
DeleteOh my gosh, I remember when you first posted about them I bookmarked it so I could remember it for the future! I would die of happiness to have a baby here!
ReplyDeleteDangerously tempting! ;)
I highly recommend it! Any plans to return to CH? xo
DeleteI hope so! It's hard to get a job that will bring me overseas at the moment, but I'd love to move to CH when I have kids!! I've always thought Zurich would be a great place to live when your kids are little :)
ReplyDeleteThe jobs I've been applying to are more likely to send me to London (either for business trips or perhaps a transfer after a year or so of being the states), but I can always hope :)