Sexual life is an important part of woman’s health. Childbirth is a stressful event, which can affect female sexual quality of life. Sexual dysfunction is prevalent in the postpartum period and might have adverse consequences on health and wellbeing but also burden the relationship. The sexuality after having given birth is a little researched ...

The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a public health issue characterized by uncertainty regarding the effects of a low or moderate intake. Health policy-makers have adopted a precautionary approach and recommend complete abstinence from alcohol as the safest choice. In this context, maternal drinking is not only a public ...

Familystart Zurich is a non-profit association which was established in May 2015. The association promotes a needs-based support of midwives for families and new-borns. Familystart uses its resources for the arrangement of postpartum care, for promoting a healthy start in life for new-borns and their families, for the efficient use of resources of ...

Midwives are qualified to care independently for women and their children during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period and to consult professionals in case of deviations from the physiological process. In practise there are clear indications for discrepancies between the competences of the midwives and limited opportunities to use them in ...

We are translating into German plain language summaries of Cochrane reviews about midwifery geared towards a lay audience jointly with Cochrane Switzerland. These summaries are provided free of charge and can most easily be retrieved online via "Cochrane Kompakt”. The systematic reviews summarize all existing research on a particular health topic ...

Midwives in Switzerland accompany women and families during pregnancy and childbirth up to eight weeks after birth. During this time they not only attend the mother during labour and birth, they also promote the health of the mother and her child and support parents in caring for their newborn child. During the postpartum period, midwives can ...

Pregnant migrant women and their families might be affected by a double stressor compared to non-migrant women, stemming from the maternal adjustment process but also from coping with living in a foreign country, limited communication or the uncertainty of their residence status. An increased maternal and child health morbidity and mortality is ...

Aim: To develop a model of the emerging expectations of the mode of giving birth and the subsequent experiences of healthy primigravid women in Switzerland. Research questions: What are healthy primigravid women’s expectations in early pregnancy of giving birth? How do these expectations change during pregnancy? What are the influences on ...

Background The disclosure of a diagnosis during pregnancy of a fetal congenital malformation incompatible with life normally comes completely unexpectedly to the parents. While a body of international literature has considered the topic, there is little direct evidence generated in Switzerland. This study aimed to illuminate contemporary treatment ...

Background: Women who plan an out of hospital birth in developed countries are generally classified as low risk. Nevertheless, during birth, unexpected complications may arise, which need competent decisions from the responsible health professionals. Aim: The aim of this study is to document the process of decision making when complications arise ...

Since 2005 the Swiss Federation of Midwives (SHV/FSSF) has recorded the activities and services of independent midwives throughout Switzerland. The goal of this survey is quality assurance. The data is evaluated annually in descriptive analyses and published in an extensive report and/or a flyer. Since 2009 the Research Unit for Midwifery Science ...