Expecting a baby can be daunting at the best of times, but when you are faced with a barrage of information, all provided in a foreign language that you are also finding difficult to master, then it can be simply overwhelming.
Even if you are able to speak French quite fluently, you may well be unfamiliar with some of the more technical vocabulary used to describe the birthing process and all that it entails.
To help your pregnancy run as smoothly as possibly, and to provide you with all the information you may need throughout the 9 months and beyond, there is help at hand in the form of an English-speaking nurse/midwife and lactation consultant, who has worked in the Nyon area as an independent midwife for more than 10 years. Running her own business called Easybirth, Kathryn Granges works under the supervision of the Swiss federation for midwives (FSSF) and now finds herself in considerable demand within the English-speaking community.
A new crèche has recently opened in Mies, catering for both the local and international community of the Lake Geneva region. Part of the Bébébiz group of kindergartens, which includes 15 crèches throughout France, the new nursery is located in a newly converted, bright and airy space, measuring 500m2, and is conveniently located just a short drive or train journey from Geneva.
Featuring hand-painted murals with inspirational themes aimed at awakening the creativity of the child, the new crèche is able to cater for 44 children, divided into 2 groups: 24 children aged from 4 months to 2 and a half years, and 20 children aged from 2 and half years to primary school age.
The physiotherapy practice, Physio Sport Acacias, has recently expanded the range of services it offers clients by taking on a registered massage therapist at its practice in Les Acacias.
Operating out of the popular fitness center, The Fitness by California Acacias, the new massage therapist, Katrin Balmain-Jeanrenaud, will offer a series of massage therapies that will complement the physiotherapy services already offered by practice founder, Alexis Romanens, and his colleague, Sebastien Weil.
Katrin told knowitall.ch, “We are passionate about addressing our patient’s fitness needs and giving all the support we can for them to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The huge benefit of our practice is that we are based at the gym, so we have access to state-of-the-art equipment whenever necessary. Our approach is highly supportive and personalized, and we all speak English.”
Katrin offers many different kinds of massage, each adapted to the specific needs of her clients. Her sports massages are designed to help clients "be prepared", thereby increasing their performance levels and reducing their risk of injury. They will also help clients recuperate by eliminating toxins and metabolic waste, and relieving cramps and sore muscles.
Since it was founded in September last year, the Nyon-based health service provider, Physiodynamis, has gone from strength to strength. So successful has the new company been, that it will move into new, purpose-built premises in Nyon later this year, enabling it to offer a wider range of physio and perinatal services such as workshops and classes for larger groups of clients.
Founded by Céline and Thomas Payot, Physiodynamis offers massage, osteopathy, and reflexology services, as well as specific proprioception services, athletic consulting, and nordic walking outings for pregnant women. For those clients looking for more support both during pregancy and after birth, the organization also offers the invaluable services of a doula. Visit the website at www.physiodynamis.ch to see the full range of services provided.
Celine told knowitall.ch, "Our goal is to support clients whenever needed, encouraging them to become more automonous and responsible for their own health. We work with people with all kinds of life styles and are committed to helping clients evolve on their own path of wellbeing, be that the improvement of their overall shape, fitness, strength or confidence."
One of Know-it-all passport's biggest fans, local mom, Nicole Scobie, has just launched her own battle against cancer by producing a new wall calendar for 2013, designed to raise money for children with cancer. All profits from sales of the calendar, which is priced at just Fr. 20.- (plus Fr. 2.- for postage), will go directly to two Swiss charities who work closely with families affected by childhood cancer: Force Fondation (www.forcefondation.ch) and ARFEC (www.arfec.ch).
The idea for the new wall calendar came a year after Nicole's own 5 year old son, Elliot, was diagnosed with cancer. Living away from her home country, Canada, and all the hands-on support one would normally expect from close relatives, Nicole's family began on a long, difficult journey, which saw Elliot spend much of his time in hospital, in the company of many other children, also bravely fighting the same battle.
Nicole told us, “Elliot was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney just over a year ago when he was 4 years old. We discovered the cancer one morning after Elliot's bath, I noticed a lump on his stomach and my instincts told me to bring him right away to our pediatrician in Rolle. She sent us to the Nyon hopsital for an ultrasound, which showed a 15cm tumour on his kidney, and we were then transferred to CHUV in Lausanne. After an intense year of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery to remove his kidney as well as the main tumour, and radiotherapy, we have now been told that he is in remission. His treatment finished on 2 July.”
