[tonlo]

I would be most grateful if anyone has a lead for me. Or possibly just an idea on how to start looking.

I live in rural Italy south of Rome with no good prospects here. I went to Texas for my first, but we have friends in Neirstein (near Mainz, not too far from Wiesbaden). It would be much friendlier and more cost-effective to go there instead of all the way back to Texas.

 

[Plaid Leopard]

First of all congratulations! DO you speak German. Is it really not possible to have a waterbirth in Italy? That's terrible.
OT but I just found out today that if a woman wants to have a homebirth in Tahiti she has to bring in a midwife from Hawaii or New Caledonia or even France.

Is it Neirstein or NIERstein? 'cause I only found Nierstein:
http://81.3.3.242/rlp/index.php?NAV=...l=1&relation=1

scroll down a bit to find Wiesbaden:
http://www.babynet.de/experten/delph...8kliniken.html

Here they have a waterbirth info night every 3rd Tuesday of the month:
http://www.joho.de/patienten/eltern.html

Hope you find someone.

 

[tonlo]

Appreciate the help. I do NOT speak German, and there is a real possibility that I have mispelled Neirstein.

I'm sure waterbirths are possible in Italy. There is even a birthing center run by a CNM in Tuscany. However, all the good possiblilities are far from me, and I don't know anyone who lives near them (boarding costs could rack up waiting for the birth). The Navy hospital is a no go; ditto for the local hospitals and I can't find a midwife near me who speaks English (doesn't seem like a good time for charades and my poor Italian).

So, I'm thinking a 2 hour Ryanair flight and staying with a good friend is my best option.

 

[Plaid Leopard]

Can your friends in Germany call around for you?

Hebamme is midwife

Hebammenpraxis is Midwive's practice

Geburtshaus is birth center

Hausgeburt is homesbirth

Wassergeburt is waterbirth

If the town in Nierstein then it is near Darmstadt:

http://www.hebamme-anke.de/index1.htm
(she seems to be religious)

http://www.familien-willkommen.de/p_derggh.htm

And here is a birthcenter in Ohlenbach:
http://www.friederike-hoffmann.de/ga...tshaus.01.html

Click on PLZ5 and there is a list of midwives in Rheinland-Pfalz, plus the services they offer

http://www.hebammen-rlp.de/

 

[Plaid Leopard]

Oh, one more idea -

Contact Verena Schmid, an Italian midwife, to see if she knows of any options for you. I think she speaks English.

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/international/italy.asp

 

[tonlo]

I just wanted to thank you again. I went to Wiesbaden last weekend to check out St. Joseph's. The midwife I met was great, the environment was clean and warm, and the tub looked good. Also, it turns out my friend just moved less than a five-minute walk away on the same street.

 

[Plaid Leopard]

That's good news.
When are you due?

 

[tonlo]

We are due Dec. 11, but we are going to Wiesbaden to stay for a couple months on November 4.

Where are you in Germany?

 

[JustJamie]

This thread is awesome!!!

I'm not currently pregnant, but we're planning on starting TTC in February. I live in Darmstadt, so birthing in Wiesbaden or Mainz is totally feasible!!!!

 

[Plaid Leopard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonlo We are due Dec. 11, but we are going to Wiesbaden to stay for a couple months on November 4. Where are you in Germany?

Cool - I have a December babe too. ds2 was born Dec 14.

I live in Saarbrücken, in Saarland, right on the border with France. SW of Wiesbaden in fact.
That's great that you can go stay in Wiesbaden and have your baby there.