Dear international couples,
Maybe you’re not that eased to speak German in your all-day life and need someone to help you to get along with your new role of parents. It’s never easy to become a mother or a father in a country in which we aren’t been raised but it will make your baby a kind of super hero. You will bring all the strength of your own culture and let know the great aspects of the German lifestyle. I’m myself not born here and have a long experience non-native populations as a midwife. With a set of courses (before and after the birth) in English on the one hand and prenatal/postnatal care on the other hand, my aim is to give you self-confidence and connect you to a network of other young parents to go through this exciting (but also turbulent) phase as relax as possible.
About me
I grew up in France where I studied midwifery at the University of Lyon from 2010 to 2015. Already as a student I was very open to women from different cultural backgrounds and my interest in acupuncture during the sensitive phase of pregnancy and postpartum grew more and more.
In 2015, after a short experience in a birth clinic in France, I moved to Germany and was able to accompany couples to birth in different delivery rooms: from the level 1 birth clinic with slightly more complicated birth stories to a 6-year experience in the Bensberg birth clinic Vinzenz Pallotti Hospital, where breech birth takes place every day and there is a special focus on breastfeeding support.
In 2016 I joined the midwifery practice Familienbetrieb in Bonn. There I accompany both in pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Since 2018 I have specialized in acupuncture treatment (for more info about acupuncture – link) and English and French speaking couple care. As of 2021, I have offered postpartum classes in German and French. Dealing with international couples became more and more natural through various offers in French and English. Since December 2022 I was allowed to become mum to twins myself and was able to experience this very special phase of life myself.
In a few headlines:
2010 – 2015: Midwifery studies in Lyon (France)
2015 – 2016: Delivery room, municipal hospital Lüneburg (maternity hospital level 1)
2016 – 2022: Delivery room, Vinzenz Pallotti Hospital Bensberg ( breastfeeding friendly maternity hospital, label baby friendly hospital)
2015 – 2018: Basic acupuncture training
2019 – 2020: Ear acupuncture training according to Jan Seeber
2019: Advanced training in baby massage according to Leboyer and nutrition in the first year of life
2021: KinesoTape training
2018- : in training TCM full training – Master of Acupuncture.
2024: Training as a Shonishin therapist
Range of services
Pregnancy can sometimes bring questions, worries or a physical strain. Your physical and mental health is enormously important in this sensitive phase of your life and you can certainly receive a free consultation. All health insurance companies cover this service. As part of my care, I recommend at least 2-3 appointments during pregnancy in order to best prepare for the postpartum period.
Prenatal care is necessary to detect pregnancy complications at an early stage and to provide more intensive care accordingly. With me you can have preventive care either from the beginning or from the 30th week onwards (when the appointments are timed every 2 weeks) in cooperation with your gynaecologist. It basically consists of a urine test, blood pressure and weight check, child growth by measuring of the symphysis- fundus distance and the heartbeat check. At certain points in the pregnancy, necessary blood samples must be taken. This can also take place in the midwife’s practice.
Acupuncture is a very old Asian medicine and can regulate imbalances in the body. The needles do not work alone and can be accompanied by appropriate nutritional advice and a few recommendations.
Fear of needles? Auriculotherapy with gold pearls can be privileged if you prefer. For some complaints (back pain, stretching pain for example) we can help with kinesiotapes.
No chemistry, no medication! The therapy has the enormous advantage of relieving or improving your pain without fearing the possible side effects of medication on your pregnancy or breastfed child.
NEW from June 2024: the Shonishin – Needleless Acupuncture for Newborns
Your baby is experiencing regulation problems and you don’t know what to do with it?
- Sleep disturbance,
- colic or other digestive problems
- Weakness in drinking
- General restlessness
- Developmental delay
- Infant asymmetry
It is not covered by health insurance Price per session: 30euros
This therapy can be used
- as a complement to medical treatment
(pain management, nausea, water retention, etc.), - for pregnancy and postpartum symptoms:
- Nausea,
- gastro-intestinal complaints,
- water retention,
- sleep disturbance,
- migraine,
- stretching pains,
- symphysis relaxation,
- depressive moods,
- back or neck pain,
- irritable bladder,
- Lochial congestion,
- lactation congestion,
- milk shortage,
- loss of libido,
- As a birth preparation measure, it has proven positive effects on the elasticity of your connective tissue, duration of the opening phase and bleeding after birth.
Price per session: 25euro (first session with diagnosis: 45euro)
Oops…Your baby is not turning in cranial position and it brings with it some questions? You want to try a natural turning method before considering a medical intervention?
Natural baby rotation through acupuncture and moxa treatment has a 50% success rate and is offered from the 33rd week of pregnancy. For a discussion about birth modes and purely medical questions, it is necessary to make an appointment with your gynaecologist and clinics that offer breech deliveries (Marienhospital, Porz, Bensberg).
Price per session: 20euros.
The postpartum period…what an exciting time! Offer yourself self-confidence through an individual care and some advices during the first 12 weeks of your baby’s life. A check-up of your well-being, vital parameters, baby weight and advice on breastfeeding, handling with the baby will be given as needed.
Do you want to go home right after your birth and don’t wanna stay avernight at the hospital ? It’s possible but only after a discussion with your pediatrician and your midwife.
The topics “nutrition” and “digestion” will accompany you very early and for a long time. Sometimes they can be quite stressful. Midwife support can help you to have a more relaxed breastfeeding time and ensure that the start of complementary feeding is not so stressful.
Any couple experiencing early losses may seek professional and empathic support. The so called “butterfly births” before the 12th week of pregnancy affect 30-40% of couples, nevertheless the topic remains taboo and you have to go through very contradictory feelings and different painful moments. You don’t have to go through it alone. All health insurances cover midwife accompaniment and consist of medical monitoring (bleeding, general condition) and support in the grieving process.
With 6 years of experience in the working group of the maternity clinic VPH “the Empty Cradle”, I was sensitized to this topic early in my professional life and I place special emphasis on this important aspect of my work. If you are interested, please contact me for an appointment at short notice.
Pregnancy and postpartum with twins
Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding…with twins you experience “parenting’ a little differently than the others. And after the surprise of the first ultrasound, you might want to prepare yourself accordingly and look for advice?
As a midwife and mother of twins, I can guide you through this special time step by step with a few insider tips.
Informations about massages during the Pregnancy and Postpartum
Massages During Pregnancy and Postpartum – Relaxation and Well-Being
Why Massages During Pregnancy and Postpartum? Pregnancy is a time of significant physical changes that can lead to various discomforts. A targeted massage can help relieve tension, alleviate pain, and enhance overall well-being. Especially following the concept of Sabine Friese-Berg (EMH), gentle yet effective techniques are used to specifically address discomforts and support postpartum recovery.
Indications:
- Stress and anxiety disorders
- Muscular tension
- Neck and back pain
- Restless legs syndrome
- Migraines
- Pelvic discomfort
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Massage Techniques According to Sabine Friese-Berg (EMH) This special massage technique is based on gentle strokes, targeted pressure, and the mobilization of tissue structures to calm the autonomic nervous system and promote circulation. The techniques are individually adapted to the specific discomforts and the stage of pregnancy.
Effects of Massage:
- Relief of muscle tension and pain
- Improved blood circulation and oxygen supply to tissues
- Relief of strained joints and the back
- Reduction of stress and promotion of relaxation
- Support for postpartum recovery
When Should a Massage Not Be Performed? In some cases, caution is advised. Contraindications may include:
- Severe water retention with suspected preeclampsia
- Infections or fever
Price List: Massages using EMH techniques exceed the (time) frame of regular midwife home visits. For this reason, a private contribution is required:
- Back and/or neck discomfort: 25 Euros
- Pelvic discomfort/birth-preparatory pelvic massage: 25 Euros
- Full-body massage: 50 Euros
Conclusion: Massages during pregnancy and postpartum are a valuable way to relieve discomfort and enhance well-being. The technique by Sabine Friese-Berg (EMH) focuses on gentle, individually tailored methods that promote physical relaxation and emotional balance. If in doubt, a consultation with the attending midwife or doctor is recommended.