Ob / Gyn

Finding a Gynecologist/Obstetrician

"How do I find a doctor?" is the most common question we get from pregnant mothers. The German word for gynecologist/obstetrician is Fachartz für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe.  For ease, we have referred to the doctor as the obstetrician, but this is interchangeable with gynecologist.

We have listed some of the Doctors (and Dentists) used by VBC members. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and the omission of a doctor is not a reflection of his/her competence or lack thereof. Those on this list are not endorsed by the VBC, but have been tried by our members. The following resources can also be used for finding a Doctor:

- VBC member recommendations
- Vienna Medical Association, Service Department for Foreign Patients. Ph: 515 01 213. Daily 8am - 4pm.  This service can recommend English-speaking doctors
- Ärtzekammer Für Wien - Praxisplan is a website that allows you to search for a doctor based on certain criteria such as specialisation, location, insurance, and more.
- Living in Vienna, a guide for the English-speaking community put out by the American Women's Association
- Your Embassy

What to Expect from your Gynaecologist

You should have your first appointment with your gynaecologist (including blood test) before the 16th week. At this appointment you will be issued with a Mutter Kind Pass (mother and child passport). This is a booklet in which all of your ante-natal examinations, birth details, and all of your child’s regular checks and immunisations until the age of five are recorded. Remember to take your Mutter Kind Pass to all visits to the gynaecologist, the place where you will give birth, and to the paediatrician once your baby is born.

Typically you will see your gynaecologist once a month during your pregnancy to ensure your pregnancy is progressing fine. At each appointment your blood pressure will be taken, urine tested for sugar and protein, and your weight recorded. At designated stages of the pregnancy special Mutter Kind Pass examinations are also performed as follows:

General health check -
Between 17th and 20th week

Ultrasounds -
Between 18th and 22nd week
Between 30th and 34th week

Blood tests -
Before 16th week
Between 25th and 28th week

The cost of the Mutter Kind Pass examinations is covered by the Krankenkasse. Most gynaecologists in Vienna also perform an ultrasound at every check-up which, unless it is one of the Mutter Kind Pass checks above, the doctor will charge for if you have a Krankenkasse doctor.

It is also common practice for doctors to perform, or send you to a hospital for if they do not have the necessary training/equipment, a nuchal fold scan (Nackenfaltenmessung) in the 13th week and an organ-screening ultrasound (thorough check of baby’s development) in the 20th week which you generally do not have to pay extra for. Some hospitals also perform an ultrasound around the 37th week to measure the size of the baby. It is also becoming more common for doctors to recommend an additional blood test, the glucose tolerance test, around the 18th week to rule out gestational diabetes.

Top

TENS Machines

Trans Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a form of pain relief using electric currents to block pain impulses while also stimulating release of endorphins. A small battery-powered stimulator is used with electrodes placed on either side of the spine on the lower back to relieve labour pain especially in the first stage.

You can rent one in Vienna and is free since it is covered by the health insurance (as long as the gynecologist gives a "Verordnung" to say it is needed for the birth).

Where to rent them:
schwa-medico
Medizinische Apparate Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Alserbachstraße 4
9th District
Tel.: 315 4397 - 11
E-Mail: sm.wien@schwa-medico.com
The staff are very friendly and non-bureaucratic. It is best to get them a bit in advance, but they do have them always in stock.

bständig
Many locations (see website)
As far as we know they do not have the obstetric units (these have larger electrode pads which midwives recommend).