Pregnancy

You're hoping to get pregnant

It's important to lead a healthy lifestyle and take folic acid. This vitamin is crucial to the baby's development in the early weeks of pregnancy and can help prevent neural tube defects. Ask your gynaecologist for advice if you have a pre-existing medical condition or difficulty in getting pregnant.

Pregnancy – 9 months of joyous anticipation

During pregnancy, you're the one who provides your baby with everything it needs to develop. Your placenta acts like a 'sponge' that absorbs everything you eat and passes it on to the baby. And studies have shown that what you eat during pregnancy affects your child's health, even into adulthood. Doing sport in pregnancy can also help boost your physical and mental health during this special period in your life.

Don't forget: Find a midwife as soon as possible. They will provide you with expert care before, during and after the birth.

Maternity benefits: What does CSS pay?

The most important benefits for pregnancy and childbirth are covered by mandatory basic insurance. If you take out supplementary insurance one year ahead of the birth, you’ll enjoy further benefits such as pregnancy yoga and antenatal courses.

Are the costs of first trimester screening covered?

Yes, this prenatal test is performed to check for the risk of trisomy 21, 18 and 13 by measuring the baby’s nuchal translucency in an ultrasound examination (12th-14th week of pregnancy) and screening the mother’s blood; the results are evaluated in relation to other factors affecting the mother and foetus (including the mother’s age).

When is a trisomy test paid for?

Mandatory healthcare insurance covers this test for the purpose of detecting trisomy 21, 18 or 13 from the 12th week of pregnancy in single pregnancies, if an increased risk is identified. Increased risk exists where there is a greater than 1 in 1,000 chance of abnormality.

Antenatal courses

Becoming a mum or dad brings lots of changes in your life. It's an exciting and challenging period. When a woman is pregnant, an incredible number of questions arise. Midwives answer these at antenatal courses, providing you with all kinds of information about pregnancy and caring for your baby, and teaching you relaxation techniques that may help during birth.

Where would you like to give birth?

Many women plan to have their baby in hospital. However, healthy women with a straightforward pregnancy whose baby is lying in the right position can also give birth at home or in a birth centre. CSS covers the cost of giving birth in a birth centre that is on the cantonal list of hospitals.

Detecting the risk of premature labour with Pregnolia

Every year, some 6,000 babies in Switzerland are born too early, i.e. before the 37th week of pregnancy. Detecting the risk of premature labour is one of the biggest unsolved problems in modern obstetrics.

Participation in costs

We recommend the special examination method developed by Swiss start-up Pregnolia. It makes it easier to detect the risk of premature birth. CSS pays a share of the cost under outpatient insurance.

Birth – the 4 stages explained

Giving birth is a process that lasts for many hours. Just as each individual pregnancy is different, so too is the length of time that labour and delivery lasts. There are four stages.

1. Dilation: This is the stage in which you start having contractions at regular intervals of 20 to 30 minutes. These make your cervix gradually open (dilate). This is the longest stage of labour and can last for 8 to 14 hours if this is your first time giving birth. Your waters will often break during this first stage. It's time to go to hospital or a birth centre.
2. Transitional stage: This stage is short and particularly intense. The contractions feel very strong and painful. By the end, the cervix is fully dilated to around 8 to 10cm.
3. Expulsion: The baby is born at the end of this stage. The mother pushes during very strong contractions that now come close together until the baby's head gradually emerges from the birth canal followed by the rest of the body.
4. Post-delivery: You've done it! Your baby is here. The womb will continue to contract a few more times until the placenta comes away. These contractions are more like menstrual pains. It's important for the placenta to be fully pushed out, otherwise the new mum is at risk of bleeding or infections.
   

Insuring your baby

We recommend enrolling your baby for health insurance before it's even born. This has two major advantages for you as expecting parents.

Postpartum period

The first 6-8 weeks after the birth are referred to as the 'puerperium', postpartum or postnatal period. That's how long it takes for the womb to recover. This is the period during which any birth injuries heal and you recover from the pregnancy and birth. Arrange for a midwife to visit you at home. They will also be able to give you valuable tips on caring for your baby and breastfeeding advice.

The first few days at home can be very tiring. Don't be shy about accepting help. How about letting someone else prepare lunch for you, or asking for a cleaning voucher instead of a present for the baby?

Breastfeeding – for a healthy start in life

Children who are breastfed as babies are less prone to allergies and obesity. In other words, breastfeeding makes an important contribution to the child’s future health.

Breastfeeding is not always easy. Get help and support from a midwife or specially trained adviser. Basic insurance covers three sessions. If you have a CSS Health Account, we will pay a share of the cost of further breastfeeding advice sessions.

Getting your breastfeeding allowance

Have you been breastfeeding for 30 days? Order your breastfeeding allowance form now and get up to CHF 200.