NEWS

Our first Advent baby was born today, on 1st of December, at 7:44 AM!

The 4-year-old big brother Karl proudly holds his ‘little’ brother Anton in his arms. Anton, at 4200g, is even heavier than Karl was back then.
Karl also picked one of our beautiful knitted Christmas hats for him. Just as no baby is like another, these hats are unique – none is the same as the other.

We wish the family lots of joy as a family of four and wish you all a wonderful, peaceful first Advent!

P.S. We still have lots of Advent and Christmas hats for you (thank you, dear Mrs. Gotzel!) and we look forward to meeting you and your children!

The dates for the 2025 information evenings are set and published!

Feel free to check here for a date that suits you. The pregnancy week is irrelevant; the only thing that matters is when it best fits into your personal schedule during pregnancy. No registration is required, the event is free of charge, and you are welcome to bring a companion.

We’ll meet at 7 p.m. in the old motherhouse of St. Josefs, which you can access either from Allee nach Sanssouci or through the hospital’s inner courtyard.

A midwife and a gynecologist will guide you through the evening, describing our work and range of care, and are happy to answer your questions from A for ‘Anmeldung’ (registration) to Z for ‘Zimmerausstattung’ (room amenities). If the delivery room allows it, we will also visit the birthing rooms.

We look forward to seeing you!

“Breastfeeding-friendly structures. For everyone.” – the motto of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week emphasizes the importance and necessity of a supportive and inclusive environment for expectant and breastfeeding mothers. World Breastfeeding Week takes place every year during the 40th calendar week, this year from September 30 to October 6, 2024. “Our goal is to create a society where every mother, regardless of her background, has access to the resources and support she needs to successfully breastfeed” (Aleyd von Gartzen, spokesperson for National Breastfeeding Promotion).

We midwives at St. Josefs Hospital wholeheartedly support this. Not just once the baby is born (and wants to be breastfed).
During pregnancy, midwifery support can address questions about previous breastfeeding experiences, as well as physical and mental preparation. Realistic expectations for the time after birth are discussed in the childbirth preparation course and are also addressed in our information evening. When you come for your birth registration, feel free to bring your birth plan, where you can outline your wishes for breastfeeding support in the delivery room and postpartum unit.

A solid foundation for breastfeeding is laid through reliable information—both for families and healthcare professionals—and the Golden Hour. Taking time for bonding right after birth, making initial attempts at breastfeeding, and providing support where it’s needed are essential. Babies born smaller than expected for their gestational age or those born 3-4 weeks before their due date require a bit more attention and more frequent feedings. Additionally, gestational diabetes can affect the baby, so early feeding of colostrum is recommended.

Many spend the first days after birth at St. Josefs Hospital in the postpartum ward St. Anna, sometimes in family rooms. This allows for professional support to be available around the clock. Plenty of skin-to-skin contact with the baby is encouraged and helpful for learning how to care for the baby and recognizing its early signs for wanting to breastfeed. Upon request, bonding wraps and nursing pillows can be used.
Of course, there are babies who cannot be (exclusively) breastfed. In these cases, empathetic guidance leads to a breastfeeding-friendly approach to extra feeding and loving feeding methods that work well for the family.

In the postpartum period at home, we are happy to support you through the many challenges of everyday life with your new family member. A significant portion of our work usually focuses on providing excellent breastfeeding support. Thorough examinations of both mother and baby, observing an entire breastfeeding session, and addressing both small and large concerns about the baby’s well-being require attention. Often, simply reassuring the family about what they are doing is enough. Occasionally, some additional support is needed to ensure that breastfeeding goes smoothly.

Until the end of the breastfeeding period, you are entitled to midwifery support for breastfeeding and feeding difficulties. Your (statutory) health insurance covers the costs for your midwife to provide advice on issues like blocked milk ducts or other difficulties, even if your child is already 8 months old—or even two years.
As breastfeeding children grow, their needs change, as do the needs of the parents. Breastfeeding groups led by midwives or lactation consultants offer a safe space for sharing experiences and provide professional support.

In case of medical issues that exceed the “normal range,” your midwife will consult your gynecologist or pediatrician, depending on the situation.

Every family must be aware that the success of breastfeeding is not solely the responsibility of the person who is breastfeeding!
Partners, grandparents, friends (with and without breastfeeding experience, but definitely with opinions on the matter), personal and health circumstances, media in the broadest sense, and breastfeeding-friendly environments… The “bubble” in which the family operates can either create immense pressure or make things significantly easier.

We midwives are aware of our responsibility and stay up-to-date through participation in training, workshops, professional literature, and interdisciplinary exchange.
And do you know which other professions need to be knowledgeable or must stay informed? Gynecologists, pediatricians, (children’s) nurses, anesthesiologists, general practitioners, dentists, dermatologists, physiotherapists, rheumatologists, internists, educators in nurseries and kindergartens, trainers, psychotherapists/psychologists, staff at poison control centers… this list is far from complete.

We support you on your individual (breastfeeding) journey!

Since the beginning of 2023, Nicole has been (re)part of the midwifery team at “im Josefs,” and since early 2024, she has also been a member of the midwifery partnership. Here we introduce her to you:

Who are you?
Hi, I’m Nicole. I have three adult children and live with my husband in downtown Potsdam. I love reading, going to concerts, and roller skating.

How long have you been a midwife? Why did you choose this profession?
I completed my exam 30 years ago in Halle/S. I wanted to be a midwife since I was a child, after finding an old anatomy book at my grandmother’s house, who also worked as a midwife. I find it fascinating to witness the strength women develop during childbirth, and being able to support them brings me immense joy every time.

Why did you choose St. Josefs Hospital?
St. Josefs was my third station as a midwife after Papua New Guinea and Neuss. I was part of the founding team 25 years ago, and after a 20-year break from clinical midwifery, I returned here at the beginning of 2023. I am very happy to be part of this wonderful team.

What do you offer in your freelance work?
Outside of the hospital, I support women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Since June 2019, Linda has been a part of our midwifery team, and since early 2022, she has also been a member of the midwifery partnership. Here we introduce her to you:

Who are you?
Hey, I’m Linda, 38 years old, and I have two wonderful daughters. I recently moved with my family from beautiful Potsdam to the idyllic Glindow. I love good food and everything that can be created with my hands (crafting, pottery, gardening).

How long have you been a midwife? Why did you choose this profession?
I have been a midwife since 2015 and worked in Berlin before landing in beautiful Josefs in 2019. I love being a midwife, and for me, there has always been this one “dream job.” It’s such a versatile profession, allowing for many different ways to work, which I find so appealing. And the “wonder of birth” continues to enchant me time and again.

Why did you choose St. Josefs Hospital?
I came to Josefs through the recommendation of a good friend and colleague, for which I am very grateful. It’s great to be able to work so freely and independently while still having a solid team around me.

What do you offer in your freelance work?
In addition to my shifts in the delivery room, I also offer support during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which makes my work even more interesting and diverse.

Easter 2024 – We celebrate life!

We are already looking forward to several little children that we were able to accompany on their way into the light of day this year at Easter and are excited to see who else will be on their way to be born with us on Easter Monday.

However, we would like to share a very special story with you (with the family’s consent, of course):

Monday, sudden shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Lydia immediately understands and calls 112 as a suspected heart attack. Her father-in-law urgently needs help and is taken to St. Josefs Hospital Potsdam for immediate care, where there is a chest pain unit and a cardiac catheter laboratory. The unusual severity of the infarction was immediately recognized there and transport via helicopter to the heart center was immediately arranged. Only open heart surgery can help him; he barely survives. On the Saturday of the Easter weekend he can be moved back to “Josef’s” – the reason is very good: his granddaughter was born here two hours earlier! Lydia gave birth to little Ilvy Lola. The family is reunited in the delivery room, two miracles meet. Things are often emotional for us, but that was very special. We wish the family all the best!

The story shows how important family bonds are, what love is and how important attention can be in the right moments.
The story shows what is medically possible today and makes it clear where life sometimes stands at a crossroads.
History shows that effort, gratitude and joy still have a place in our lives today.
The story shows that there are many people who work on holidays, at night, despite having families, and are there for others with full commitment – and thus make these stories possible.

We midwives at St. Josefs Hospital are responsible for all of this and thank you for your trust in allowing us to accompany you during your births.

Happy Easter!