Giving birth in Frankfurt, various advice

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone had positive (or negative) experiences with Hebammen, Frauenärzte or birthing locations in Frankfurt?

Perhaps there's someone or somewhere you'd recommend, or recommend avoiding?

We'll be moving to FF when I'm 34 weeks, and I guess I'll have to find a doctor, midwife, klinik, and perhaps a kompaktvorbereitungskurs...

I'm sorry - I know I've been asking for a lot of info lately... The move has left me feeling a little like I'm 'not in Kansas anymore'...

Smiles!

Flibbit

A little bit of info and some contacts with first-hand experience. That's what flibbit means.

Thanks Keydeck!
I missed that thread, somehow.

Hi again!

I've read through the thread that Keydeck found me , and even sent out some PM messages asking for more info...

But does anyone have any specific advice - ie. the name of a Hebamme/hospital/doctor that they loved and couldn't have done without, or hated and would avoid? I would love to be able to make some calls and appointments before we get there, but I'm not sure randomly going through the phonebook is the best way to pick a midwife

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

I was in exactly same position last May, moving to Frankfurt 1 week before giving birth speaking no German and having made no preparations. I found the best Hebamme ever - Matina Matoff. 745833. I found her after having my daughter but she was so wonderful and reassuring during such a confusing time, I can't recommend her highly enough. Had the baby at the Burgerhospital which was fine - very clean, lovely staff. It was difficult as I hadn't had time to find out the German system and style of maternity care - quite different from British but it was my second baby so I knew what I was doing. Be assertive at the hospital you choose, most Germans (Mums and Dads to be) are very well prepared when they give birth and know their way around the hospital, so ask about everything. The rooms were hot and slightly over crowded, we had 3 to a room and it was too many but they were building an extension when I was there so it's probably better now. Pain relief (I had a c- section) was fine when I had the surgery but afterwards was not so hot - I had to ask and I was in a lot of pain but my op was difficult as I had a chest infection and coughed all the way through it. Oh god I shiver when I recall it all now. The baby was taken away to the Baby Zimmer (where the clean her up and do some tests and put her in some hospital clothes - yellow - not her colour) after I had her and my husband had to race to get our daughter from school so I was left alone in recovery not really knowing what was happening. Oh and don't expect a lot of privacy in your room, they don't have curtains around the beds. But do ask other patients guests to leave when Doctors are checking you. You are entitled to some dignity.
I laugh about it now but at the time it was tough as I had had no preparation. Call the hospitals, try to look round. Talk to as many people as possible and let me know if you have any more questions. I have a fantastic cheeky 8 month old with now so all was fine.
Good luck

The Birth Centre in Frankfurt is excellent. Even if you prefer to have your baby in a hospital, you could call them and ask for advice. My daughter was born there in 2002 and I consider it the best place to have a baby. If you click on the link below you find an english speaking midwife on the page.
http://www.geburtshaus-frankfurt.de/team/hebammen.php

We had our first child in Offenbach but let's not go there. The second birth was much better. It was at the Bürgerhospital in Frankfurt. Compentent staff, nice rooms, good food (not a given in hospitals), they didn't try to keep us in there to keep the beds occupied etc.

Frauenärztin: my wife swears by a Frau Weber-Hanson in the Mertonviertel. She's married to an American and speaks excellent English, and did a thoroughly good job etc. Here are her address details and phone no.

Thanks for the advice!

Chimaera, I called Matina Matoff, and she's absolutely great! Really friendly, helpful, informative... And speaks perfect English!!!
Unfortunately, I don't think she can be my Hebamme, BUT she was a great source of Info in finding someone who could... I would second the recommendation of at least calling her for advice (if anyone else nees to ) Enjoy your cheeky 8 month old!!!

Marie-Claire, Thankyou! I've booked myself in for Vorsorge at the Birth Centre... And they were ale to help me find a Hebamme to do Nachsorge in my area, who also works at the Centre and who could take me on in April...

We'll be heading to info-evenings at the Marienklinik, the Bürgerhospital and the Birth Centre, so I guess we can decide then...

And Jumpsuit! Thanks for the recommendation! Good food is always a plus at hospitals and in planes ... I'm going to give Frau Weber-Hanson as call tomorrow...

Again, thankyou SO much, you three

Pleased to be useful on a subject that men don't normally specialise in!

Yes, the food at the Bürgerhospital was great, the wonderful smell of basmati rice and veg wafting through the wards! I know a friend who went to the "Geburtshaus" and she said she was very happy there. Don't know much about that place, but I believe they're more into "natural" birthing rather than a hospital environment.

Good luck Buttercup. By the way it's worth joining the Mother's Club through either AWCT or BCT (American or British Club) for the 'Bumps and Babies' meetings. Not normally my kind of thing but met some really cool people this way.

Jumpsuit, hospital talk doesn't usually get me hungry!!! But it sounds delish... (Then again, I am quite pregnant )

Sounds like a good tip Chimaera... Do you know if the BCT/AWCT mind if I'm Australian?

Smiles!

Particularly AWCT have people from all over. I'm British, husband American so I joined both. Lots of Aussies in group. No worries!!

Excellent!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Hi there!

There is Pre-natal Class in English.

Frauen gesundheits Zentrum für Frauen und Familien : www.fgzn.de

cheer,
mum of a child 17 months old.