Geburtshaus Zollikerberg
welcome
A new life is on its way and it’s a time of great emotions for the whole family. We accompany you during your childbirth and we are offering you comfort, peace and sensitivity.
Obstetrical care before, during and after birth
We care for you with empathy and commitment and support you as well as your family with our extensive knowledge during pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.
Midwives out of passion
30+
years of experience
24/7
availability
100%
engagement
Our midwives
We see ourselves as companions who advise and support you through this intense and exciting time in your life. No question is too much for us and no emotion is too exhausting. We look forward to every interaction.
Kim Runkel
My name is Kim Runkel, I grew up in Germany near the Swiss border and am now living with my family in Ottikon b. Kemptthal. I love spending time with my family, travelling and exploring the world. In my free time I regularly sing and dance and also do yoga.
I have become self-employed because it is a matter close to my heart to accompany women and families holistically through what is probably the most exciting time in their lives. It is important to me that families have enough time to share the miracle and let it unfold together. My son was born in July 2018 and this experience has reaffirmed me how important it is for midwife and mother to know and trust each other in order to facilitate a positive overall experience.
Professional background:
• 2016 – 2021 Member of the midwifery practice Rondo Pfäffikon ZH
• Since 2016 Freelance midwife in the Zurich Oberland, home births, antenatal and postnatal care
• 2013 – 2016 Midwife in the birth centre Zurich Oberland, Bäretswil
• 2012 – 2013 Midwife in a maternity department in a hospital in Switzerland
• 2011 Completion of Bachelor’s degree BSc in Midwifery in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Further education:
• Homeopathy for pregnancy, birth and postpartum (2015).
• Traditional midwifery, B. Kosfeld (2016)
• Quality circles on various topics, B. Kosfeld (2017-2023)
• Regular further training Start4Neo and AED/BLS
Linda Haller
I am Linda. I grew up and live next to the beautiful lake of Zurich. As a family person, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Besides my work as a midwife, I love to travel, cook and work out at Crossfit.
The needs and requests of you and your family are central in my work. Your individual support and care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period is very important to me. I want to support and encourage the natural processes and changes as well as you as a woman and you as a family. I always have an open ear for issues that concern you. Talk about them openly and directly anytime, because there are no taboos for me.
Professional background:
• 2023 Freelance midwife
• 2020 – 2023 University Hospital Zurich, Birth Department, Trainer
• 2020 Paracelsus Hospital Richterswil, maternity ward
• 2016 – 2018 Qualified nurse, Hirslanden Clinic, Orthopaedics/Urology
Further education:
• EST. 2024 Master’s degree in Advanced Practice Midwifery, FH Gesundheit, Tyrol
• 2021 beMom Yoga Teacher Training, Room for Yoga Bayreuth
• 2021 “Professional family support in the event of the early death of your child”, basic course, kindsverlust.ch
• 2020 Graduation Bachelor of Science Midwife, Bern University of Applied Sciences
• 2018 K-Taping Gyn, K-Taping International Academy
• 2016 Graduation from Higher Technical School of Nursing, Hirslanden Clinic
• 2014 Graduation as a health professional EFZ, Hirslanden Clinic
• Regular further training in Start4Neo and AED/BLS
Maya von Bergen
My name is Maya von Bergen. I live in Uster and I am always kept busy by my two teenage boys. I love nature, doing sports and I have a great sense of humor. Besides German, I also speak fluent English.
It is important to me to support mothers with my knowledge in a trusting setting and to respond individually to their needs. Pregnancy, birth and postpartum are natural processes that should be disturbed as little as possible from the outside. I observe closely to recognize deviations and treat them as much as necessary but as little as possible. It is my aim to strengthen the mother’s confidence in the competence of her body.
Professional background:
• 2011 – 2019 Member of the midwifery practice Rondo Pfäffikon ZH, home birth support.
• 2013 Training as a breastfeeding and lactation consultant IBCLC
• Since 2009 Freelance midwife in the Zurich Oberland, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding counselling, postpartum classes.
• 2003 – 2008 Building department in various hospitals
• 2002 Graduation as federally certified midwife at the midwifery school St. Gallen
Further education:
• Traditional teaching of midwifery and childbirth B.Kosfeld.
• Antenatal care
• Postnatal gymnastics BeBo and Pilates
• Homeopathy
• Cranio-Sacral-Therapy
• Kinesio-Taping
• Newborn resuscitation Start4Neo and BLS
• Breastfeeding and lactation
Sophie Wirth
My name is Sophie. I grew up in Eastern Switzerland and have been living in the city of Zurich for quite some time now. In my free time, you can find me often out walking, with a book in my hand or with my friends and family.
Since 2020 I have been working as a qualified midwife, most recently in the maternity department of the University Hospital Zurich. I consider it a great privilege to be able to accompany women and couples during the unique, exciting and sensitive time of having children. The desire for midwife-led and continuous care finally led me to the Zollikerberg Birth Centre. My aim as a midwife is to create a setting in which every woman feels well informed and cared for, so that she can fully engage in the processes of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period with complete confidence.
Professional background:
• 2023 Freelance midwife
• 2020 – 2023 University Hospital Zurich, Birth Department, Trainer
Further education:
• 2023 – 2024 CAS breastfeeding and lactation counselling, Bern University of Applied Sciences
• 2023 Traditional Teaching of Midwifery and Childbirth, TLHE
• 2020 Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, Zurich University of Applied Sciences
• Regular further training Start4Neo and AED/BLS
Moranne Caplunik
I am Moranne Caplunik. I grew up in Switzerland and am now I am back after living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a few years. Spending time with my family and friends is very important to me. I am very adventurous, but I also enjoy cosy moments like cooking, being in nature or reading.
I speak German, Spanish, English, Hebrew and some French.
Accompanying women and families during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period is a great joy and an indescribable honour for me. I attach great importance to sharing my knowledge in such a way that the couples I support can make their own decisions. This not only creates a deep trust between us, but also strengthens their self-confidence, which in turn enables them to experience pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period in a natural but self-determined way.
Professional background:
• Since 2023 midwife in the maternity department of the Zollikerberg Hospital
• 2018 – 2023 Freelance midwife in home birth in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 2015 – 2017 Midwife in the maternity ward of Limmattal Hospital
• 2015 Completion of Bachelor’s degree BSc in Midwifery at ZHAW
Further education:
• Regular further training in Start4Neo and AED/BLS.
Michelle Andermatt
My name is Michelle and I live in the heart of Zurich in a shared flat. I like the noise and variety around me and the fact that I can cycle around the city almost all the time. I find my balance in nature, reading or being creative.
As a midwife, I support the physiological processes during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. At the same time, I attach great importance to giving the parents a lot of space, because they know themselves and their child the best. I became a midwife in order to be able to accompany families continuously and to get to know the parents already during pregnancy. So I can respond to their individual needs during the birth.
Professional background:
• 2023 Freelance midwife
• 2020 – 2023 University Hospital Zurich, Birth Department
• 2020 Uster Hospital, Birth Department
Further education:
• 2020 Aromatherapy
• 2020 Graduation Bachelor of Science Midwife, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
• Regular further training Start4Neo and AED/BLS
Nicole Widmer
My name is Nicole Widmer and I live with my family in Mönchaltorf. We love being outdoors together, whether it’s in the mountains, on the high ropes course or on a toboggan run. When I have time for myself, I enjoy a nice cup of tea with a good book or a podcast. Good food can also make me very happy.
I have a particular interest in medicine, women’s and family health, and interpersonal communication in my midwifery profession. I consider working as a caseload midwife a great privilege, as I can accompany families from the positive pregnancy test to the first birthday. For me, this continuum of care represents a very high level of quality, which is of great importance in my work.
Professional background:
• 2023 Freelance midwife
• 2022 – 2023 Mother and father advisor, kjz Uster
• 2019 – 2022 Freelance Midwife in the Uster area
• 2017 – 2019 Midwife, Kantonsspital Baden
• 2015 – 2017 Freelance Midwife, Hebammen unterwegs, Winterthur
• 2013 – 2015 Midwife, Kantonsspital Baden
Further education:
• 2013 Bachelor of Science in Midwifery
• 2009 Completion of Registered Nurse HF (Child, Adolescent, Family, Women)
• 2005 Completion as a Swiss Certified Business Administrator
We provide a calm and safe environment for you and your child.
What makes us different?
At the birth centre “Geburtshaus Zollikerberg” we fulfill your wish for a midwife-led, calm and natural birth. The same team of midwives accompanies you from start to finish.
time for you and your child
empathetic midwives
calm environment
near a hospital
Q&A with Pia Schnitzler
Clinic and Project Manager
3 family rooms and much more: cosy, modern and warmly furnished
Frequently Asked Questions
A birth centre is an out-of-hospital facility run by experienced midwives to care for women during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum and breastfeeding.
In a preliminary discussion with the midwife, we will evaluate whether a birth in a birth centre is an option for you.
During the birth, you will be accompanied by your midwife team and receive intensive personal care. With little medical or technical effort, we enable you to experience a self-determined, natural birth. In addition to relaxation and breathing exercises, we use various complementary medical methods and take care of your well-being. The rooms in the Geburtshaus Zollikerberg are bright and friendly, so that you feel comfortable and secure. They are equipped with various aids such as birthing stools, exercise balls, towels and a wooden birthing bathtub. The family rooms are large and comfortably furnished so that you can move around freely.
The midwives’ competence includes guiding the physiological birth and recognising deviations. However, should you or your child need further support, it is possible to get medical help quickly and safely from the Zollikerberg hospital next door or to transfer you there.
Childbirth at the birth centre is covered by your health insurance. The flat rate of CHF 800 must be paid by the mother herself. First consultation (CHF 150) and the flat rate of CHF 800 must be paid by the mother herself. The first consultation for a delivery at the birth centre in Zollikerberg can be deducted from the flat rate.
Tours will be possible as of 1 September 2023.