GYN & PERINATAL ZURICH > Pregnancy and Birth

Pregnancy and Birth

We advise and care for you before a planned pregnancy, during pregnancy and at birth. It is our concern to prepare you in the best possible way for an upcoming pregnancy, taking into account your risks or previous history or pre-existing illnesses.

During pregnancy, they receive intensive and attentive care, and pregnant women with additional risks in particular benefit from the many years of experience of Prof. Breymann and his team.

Trust in our competence, experience and empathy.

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Antenatal care

In most cases, pregnancy is not a pathological event and does not require medical treatment in the strict sense. Nevertheless, regular visits to the gynaecologist are sensible and recommended.

During prenatal care, we monitor or accompany your pregnancy and carry out the recommended or necessary examinations. The number and intervals of the examinations depend on the course of your pregnancy and your individual risks.

The examinations are particularly important at around 12-14 weeks of pregnancy to exclude genetic diseases in the foetus and at around 20-22 weeks of pregnancy when the so-called organ ultrasound is carried out on the child. The growth of the child, organs and their blood supply, placenta and amniotic fluid are examined in detail.

Regardless of whether you have a normal or high-risk pregnancy, we will adapt the examinations to your needs and "take you by the hand". Worries and fears during pregnancy and before birth should be eased as much as possible.

Ultrasound pregnancy (SGUM & DEGUM certified)

For many years we have been using ultrasound examinations during pregnancy, which are safe for the expectant mother and the child.

At different points in the pregnancy we can examine different structures in the unborn child (e.g. at the end of the third month the nuchal fold, at about 20 weeks of pregnancy the different organ systems such as brain, heart, spine etc. and towards the end of the pregnancy fetal growth, texture and position of the placenta, amount of amniotic fluid and fetal position).

Special training and practical experience are required to ensure that these examinations are carried out in a standardised manner and at the highest level.

Perinatal medicine

Perinatal medicine (perinatology) includes the health care of pregnant women and the foetus before and after birth. Prof. Breymann is a designated specialist for high-risk and high-risk pregnancies. In addition, patients benefit from his knowledge in the field of vitamin and iron substitution.

We focus on counselling patients and couples with complex obstetric issues, such as pre-existing family stress, difficult pregnancies in the past and current high-risk pregnancies, for example with maternal diseases such as diabetes, kidney or heart diseases or disorders of the coagulation system.

Care for normal and high-risk pregnancies

In both normal and high-risk pregnancies, a competent team accompanies you from the beginning of your pregnancy to the birth.

Your individual characteristics will be taken into account and you will be optimally prepared for the development of the child and a successful birth.

This includes the optimal supply of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and trace elements during pregnancy. For this purpose we have developed "Pregnancy Swiss" by Prof. Breymann, which we are happy to inform you about.

PREGNANCY ° SWISS

Second opinions and advice on obstetric issues and risks

If they have specific questions about their pregnancy, for example due to illnesses such as diabetes or coagulation disorders, or have already experienced a difficult pregnancy or birth, we will be happy to advise them on this on request.

Regardless of whether they are being cared for by another doctor at the same time.

The expectant life is the focus for us

Perinatal Institute Zurich

Non-invasive prenatal diagnostics

"High End" Ultrasound Diagnostics

Prof. Breymann has been involved in the development of sonography in pregnancy over the last twenty years and has witnessed all stages of development.

Ultrasound examinations are performed and documented according to the guidelines of the Swiss and German Society for Ultrasound in Medicine.

All written and image findings are stored for you on your electronic maternity passport.

Ultrasound diagnostics

Fetal biometry (size and weight estimation)
Fetal sonoanatomy (organ diagnostics)
- Brain, face, heart, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital tract, umbilical cord
- Body and Extremities
- Spine
3D and 4D (Life 3D) ultrasound diagnostics
3D and 4D skeleton representations
Placental function (feto placental perfusion) by means of Doppler flow measurements
Fetal circulation using Doppler flow measurements
Nuchal translucency measurement (early pregnancy)
Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) = Fetal DNA in maternal blood in collaboration with Unispital Zurich Institute of Genetics (Prof. Dr. R. Rauch)

First trimester and organ ultrasound

The ultrasound examinations in the first trimester (approx. 10-12 weeks of pregnancy) and second trimester (approx. 20-22 weeks of pregnancy) are particularly important for ruling out genetic changes or malformations in the child.

During the first trimester ultrasound, the so-called nuchal fold is measured, a skin structure in the area of the child's neck. A widened nuchal fold (> 3mm) can be an indication of a genetic change or also a heart defect in the foetus. Therefore, the exact measurement of the nuchal fold is of great importance.

Second-trimester ultrasound is primarily concerned with the precise examination of the organs (brain, heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and bladder), weight determination and blood flow to the child and the placenta. Thus, this ultrasound examination is also of great importance for the exclusion of organ or other malformations.

Invasive prenatal diagnostics

Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling

Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are techniques for obtaining foetal cells for chromosome testing (genetic material). Both techniques are still considered the "gold standard" of prenatal genetic testing, as the results with the highest significance can be obtained from the cells obtained.

For example, abnormal results in the "NIPT" (fetal DNA test on the mother) must always be confirmed by an amniocentesis. In experienced hands, both techniques are very low-risk. Both techniques are performed regularly.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Puncture of the chorion (later placenta) from the 11th week of pregnancy to obtain chromosomes from chorionic villi. Obtaining the first results after 48-72 hours (so-called short-term culture).

Amniocentesis (amniotic fluid puncture)

Puncture of the amniotic fluid from the 16th week of pregnancy to obtain foetal cells with their chromosomes. Results obtained after 10-12 days, with molecular genetic testing ("FISH") after 24-48 hours.

Puncture of the amniotic fluid can also be used to diagnose or exclude fetal infections.

Genetic techniques

Genetic counselling and genetic testing in the foetus

Due to the large number of prenatal genetic tests offered today, competent counselling about their possibilities and limitations is very important in advance.

Incidentally, this counselling is also prescribed in the Human Research Act and should only be carried out by gynaecologists or geneticists trained for this purpose.

At our institute, you will receive thorough and competent advice about genetic testing, both from our doctors and from the Institute of Medical Genetics at the University of Zurich or the Institute Genetika Zurich.

Counselling for child problems or malformations

If a problem occurs with your child during pregnancy, such as insufficient growth or a malformation, we will advise you on possible causes or consequences for the child during pregnancy or even after birth.

You will benefit from the network of specialists who will discuss your case together with Prof. Dr. Breymann, if desired, in order to provide the best possible and individual care. This network or "Perinatal Board" consists of geneticists, paediatric radiologists, neonatologists, paediatric surgeons and other specialists.

Birth

Of course, we take into account your wish for a "natural" birth, but also the wish for a caesarean section (Sectio) or advise you on the best way of birth for you. In the case of caesarean section, Prof. Breymann uses the "gentle" (Misgav Ladach/Cohan) method, and in the case of vaginal birth we avoid the episiotomy whenever possible.

Normal and risk births

Whether you are aiming for a vaginal birth or a caesarean section, we are open to your wishes and ideas and try to fulfil them whenever possible.

Due to Prof. Dr. Breymann's great experience, you can rely on optimal care during the birth.

Obstetric operations

Prof. Dr. Breymann has been attending births for more than twenty years. He is the representative of the NESA (New European Surgical Academy) in the field of obstetrics for Switzerland.

NESA was founded by Prof. Dr. Michael Stark, the inventor of the "Gentle Caesarean Section" (Misgav Ladach) and Gyn & Perinatal Zurich is certified by NESA for this method.

Maternity clinics

Prof. Breymann is accredited at the Hirslanden, Hirslanden Im Park, Bethanien and Zollikerberg hospitals for births of patients with private and semi-private insurance.

At Uster Hospital, Prof. Breymann is a consultant physician and regularly acts as deputy chief physician.

Prof. Breymann's maternity clinics

Perinatal stem cells and stem cell preservation

Prof. Breymann has been involved in numerous research projects and lectures in the field of stem cell research. He has been working on stem cell conservation and the use of stem cells from placental blood or umbilical cord tissue since 2000. He is currently collaborating with the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (Prof. Stefan Zeissberger) and the Wyss Translational Center at the University of Zurich.

Prof. Breymann is an expert consultant in the field of stem cell storage at Nescens Swiss Stem Cell Sciene Switzerland, Famicord Switzerland and Vita 34 Switzerland.

We will be happy to advise you on the subject of stem cell storage for your child.

Prof. Breymann Stem Cell Research

Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cerebral palsy

June 20, 2024

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder characterized by movement disorders and postural problems caused by non-progressive brain injuries. Although there is no cure, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies offer hope for treatment options to repair the central nervous system. Studies show that MSCs...

Ultrasound via smartphone

May 8, 2024

During an ultrasound examination, high-frequency sound waves are sent through the body, which are reflected by tissues and organs as echoes. The sound wave power of ultrasound devices used in obstetrics is so low that they do not cause any short or long-term damage to the body.

Perinatal stem cell research: Prof. Breymann in conversation with Famido.ch

March 20, 2024

This episode is about the fascinating world of stem cell storage from the placenta and umbilical cord. Prof. Breymann, a recognized expert in the field of perinatal stem cell research and pregnancy, discusses the key aspects of this topic with Ms. Isabell Ziegler from famido.ch. In doing so...