Important phrases to learn when pregnant in a foreign country!?

[Flingmoo]

I may be moving to Switzerland during this pregnancy and I'm not great at speaking German yet. I understand well enough but I'm not good at putting phrases together yet.

Fortunately it's DH's native language so I am trying to compile a list of useful pregnancy/childbirth related phrases I want him to teach me.

Any suggestions?!

Think about what you would want in an emergency situation and learn that first. ( it's what my friend did )

This is what I've got so far

'Get your hands off me you crazy woman'?
'My contractions are .........(time reference) apart.
'I want some really good drugs please'

but hang on....
your DH will come with you to the birth wont he?

ich etwas sehr gut drogen mochte? does that work?

That's exactly what I need Brat!

Yes, DH will be at the birth (I bloody well hope so anyway!) but it would be useful to be able to express myself where possible... I am a bit worried about antenatal appointments though as he'll be working in a new job and unlikely to be able to have time off for those. Hoping to get an English-speaking midwife or it'll all be a bit awkward!

Maybe add to your list any allergies you might have to explain, how to express that you DONT want someone to touch/examine you if you feel uncomfortable it's with them or there's another contraction coming... oh, and how to ask someone to speak slowly, how to ask if the midwife/nurse can show/draw a picture to help you understand. Once at hospital you should be ok... I've seen doctors in some very remote/unusual places (Mongolia... Siberia... Malawi) and they've all had reasonable English. I'm sure I read somewhere once that many university medecine text books are in English. So, whilst they might not be scintillating dinner company they should be able to tell you what's happening :D

Chances are that the nurses and midwives will have better English than your German anyway!

scroll down for useful phrases and terms

That link is about giving birth in Germany but there are useful words and phrases at the bottom.

Be aware your DH may not know all the ob/gyne medical words either even though it's his language (mine didn't)

Also use the most pretentious English you can when talking to doctors in English - not because they are snobs but because they are likely to know medical terminology with Latin roots but not the cozy familiar layman's English terms midwives etc in the UK might use to put patients at ease.

I don't know anything about Switzerland but I had DC2 in Germany fairly soon after arriving in the country when I didn't speak much German and only one midwife spoke English, and none of the nurses. All the doctors spoke English though (but only the anaesthetist spoke fluently and seemed comfortable speaking English.)

It's worth prioritising finding an English speaking midwife before you unpack Try posting on the living overseas board to find out how prenatal care works in Switzerland if you don't already know.

IME of travel whilst pregnant, learn to ask for directions for the nearest toilet, and learn how to plead with random shop/cafe owner to use of the toilet.

But as someone married to a DH for whom English is not a first language, I'd echo the advice upthread to be aware that he mightnt necessarily understand or be able to translate for you in medical situations. So if you can do so in advance, try to work together on how he might convey certain questions or requests to midwives or doctors.

And also, as others have said, English is fairly widely spoken throughout German-speaking countries. You should be fine.

You might be able to get them to provide an interpreter for appointments. I live in Denmark and the first letter I got from the hospital asked if I needed one.

I can't stop laughing at the German word for episiotomy...DAMMSCHNITT!