I am due to give birth soon and because of insurance issues I am only covered to go to HUG Hospital. I can't speak ANY French and am worried about the language barrier. I have been going to an english speaking private OB but she is not covered to deliver at HUG. Has anyone been through this before? Also my baby is breech and doesn't seem like its going to turn anytime soon. Will they book me in for a c-section (which is usually performed at 38 weeks) when I go for my first appointment at the hospital next week (i'll be 37 weeks then) Any help/tips or suggestions from anyone has has been through this would be most welcome! :)
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Anyone with a birth experience at HUG Hospital
Apr 15, 2009 @ 21:13
The text you are quoting:
I am due to give birth soon and because of insurance issues I am only covered to go to HUG Hospital. I can't speak ANY French and am worried about the language barrier. I have been going to an english speaking private OB but she is not covered to deliver at HUG. Has anyone been through this before? Also my baby is breech and doesn't seem like its going to turn anytime soon. Will they book me in for a c-section (which is usually performed at 38 weeks) when I go for my first appointment at the hospital next week (i'll be 37 weeks then) Any help/tips or suggestions from anyone has has been through this would be most welcome! :)
YellowtuplipApr 15, 2009 @ 21:13
YellowtuplipApr 15, 2009 @ 21:13
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Re: Anyone with a birth experience at HUG Hospital
Post 1
Apr 16, 2009 @ 00:09
Hi !!!!
I gave birth at HUG ten (almost 11) years ago and everything was fabulous. I'm French so language wasn't an issue, but a young Kosovar lady arrived one night and even if no one could speak her language her delivery went fine.
Then they managed to get people from her community to come and visit, assess her needs and translate. If they could do that for a Kosovar, English really shouldn't be an issue.
For the funny part, I knew she was muslim and reluctant to eat in case it was pork, so I'd imitate the sound the animal made and looked after her best I could.
The food was brilliant, the maternal assistants caring, two double rooms had a "sas" in the middle to leave the babies sleeping and in-between feeds/learn to bathe the newborns; one could ask for the baby to be looked after by staff to recuperate or simply take a shower. Visiting hours were flexible for spouses when I was alone (I had to stay a whole week because my baby had jaundice so I got 2 different roomies and a day in-between where I was alone) and quite frankly had I had another child I'd have PICKED the place to have it.
You should be assured that HUG being a University as well as a hospital, all the top specialists of the area work there. The level of care is very high, as some of the people who might look after you could very well be the professors who teach as well during the day!!!! Not to mention the postnatal care for "delicate" deliveries - my labour was so long plus I had an epidural and episiotomy but still got perfect care.
I'd visited friends at La Tour and Les Grangettes but didn't feel I'd missed out much. Of course, the Mat' was brand-new then...
Feel free to drop me a line and let me know if all is okay...
Good luck and don't fret - it's bad for the baby!
Sophie
aka Wisdom
The text you are quoting:
Hi !!!!
I gave birth at HUG ten (almost 11) years ago and everything was fabulous. I'm French so language wasn't an issue, but a young Kosovar lady arrived one night and even if no one could speak her language her delivery went fine.
Then they managed to get people from her community to come and visit, assess her needs and translate. If they could do that for a Kosovar, English really shouldn't be an issue.
For the funny part, I knew she was muslim and reluctant to eat in case it was pork, so I'd imitate the sound the animal made and looked after her best I could.
The food was brilliant, the maternal assistants caring, two double rooms had a "sas" in the middle to leave the babies sleeping and in-between feeds/learn to bathe the newborns; one could ask for the baby to be looked after by staff to recuperate or simply take a shower. Visiting hours were flexible for spouses when I was alone (I had to stay a whole week because my baby had jaundice so I got 2 different roomies and a day in-between where I was alone) and quite frankly had I had another child I'd have PICKED the place to have it.
You should be assured that HUG being a University as well as a hospital, all the top specialists of the area work there. The level of care is very high, as some of the people who might look after you could very well be the professors who teach as well during the day!!!! Not to mention the postnatal care for "delicate" deliveries - my labour was so long plus I had an epidural and episiotomy but still got perfect care.
I'd visited friends at La Tour and Les Grangettes but didn't feel I'd missed out much. Of course, the Mat' was brand-new then...
Feel free to drop me a line and let me know if all is okay...
Good luck and don't fret - it's bad for the baby!
Sophie
aka Wisdom
Wisdom, Apr 16, 2009 @ 00:09
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Re: Anyone with a birth experience at HUG Hospital
Post 2
Apr 18, 2009 @ 11:32
I too had the same issue that i had to give brith at HUG, i was there December 2007. I had all the same worries as you in that i dont speak French ect. Anyway i had no issues there, i went for my 2 week before due date check up, there is a midwife there by the name of Annie she is originally from Scotland but has been in Geneva for over 20yrs. She is very nice and made me feel very comfortable. The only thing that HUG cant promise you is on the day/night you come in for delivery that there will be a english speaking midwife there, but most of the doctors speak English and i was lucky to have a englsih speaking doctor there present. Afterwards i was sent to my room which i had to share with 2 others, but one left the next day so only 2 of us in the room, they help you during the day which i found brilliant as i was so scared and wasnt sure how to even bath the baby, during the nightshift, the midwifes take the baby away from you if you wish to sleep for a bit and they are in the room next door with the midwife. Food was fine nothing special just plain simple stuff. They usually ask that you stay for 5 days but if you want to leave sooner you can once the doctors have checked you over and the baby and they are happy.
All in all, coming from the UK and knowing what the NHS is like, i think you will be ok at HUG. Dont worry too much, just be sure on the day that you make it clear you dont speak french and hopefully they can find someone on duty to help you. Good Luck :)
The text you are quoting:
I too had the same issue that i had to give brith at HUG, i was there December 2007. I had all the same worries as you in that i dont speak French ect. Anyway i had no issues there, i went for my 2 week before due date check up, there is a midwife there by the name of Annie she is originally from Scotland but has been in Geneva for over 20yrs. She is very nice and made me feel very comfortable. The only thing that HUG cant promise you is on the day/night you come in for delivery that there will be a english speaking midwife there, but most of the doctors speak English and i was lucky to have a englsih speaking doctor there present. Afterwards i was sent to my room which i had to share with 2 others, but one left the next day so only 2 of us in the room, they help you during the day which i found brilliant as i was so scared and wasnt sure how to even bath the baby, during the nightshift, the midwifes take the baby away from you if you wish to sleep for a bit and they are in the room next door with the midwife. Food was fine nothing special just plain simple stuff. They usually ask that you stay for 5 days but if you want to leave sooner you can once the doctors have checked you over and the baby and they are happy.
All in all, coming from the UK and knowing what the NHS is like, i think you will be ok at HUG. Dont worry too much, just be sure on the day that you make it clear you dont speak french and hopefully they can find someone on duty to help you. Good Luck :)
Sonia123, Apr 18, 2009 @ 11:32
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