From high infant mortality to massages for babies and fathers

From the middle of the Second World War on, the Mütter- und Väterberatung (Mother and Fathers Counselling service) of the Canton of Zug has worked towards the well-being of parents and their children. The discussions nowadays are less about giving advice, but more solution-oriented counselling, strengthening skills and incorporating experiences.

The ‘Punkto’ Mothers and Fathers Counselling Service of the Canton of Zug is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Much has changed and has evolved over time in those eight decades. What has remained consistent over the years, however, is that the well-being of children is at the heart of the cooperation. The deputy manager Melitta Steiner and the Counselling Team Leader Susanne Stucki have been with the organisation for several years, lending a helping hand to parents and children.

Nowadays, the team of Punkto Mothers and Fathers Counselling Service is much busier with administrative tasks than at the start of the counselling in 1942, during the Second World War. At that time, people were struggling with high infant mortality and food shortages. “Even today, parents are, of course, mainly concerned with their children's health, nutrition, sleeping habits or dental care," says Susanne Stucki, who grew up in Solothurn.

As before, it is mostly mothers would visit the consultations with the little ones. But the fathers' desire to build a good relationship with the children and to do family work is clearly noticeable. "Many of the fathers try to schedule the counselling sessions for the evening or the weekend or, for example, to reduce their workload to 80%," says Melitta Steiner.

The ten-member advisory team consists exclusively of women. "Unfortunately, this is also the case in other cantons. Only in the Canton of Bern and in the Canton of Zurich are a few men involved in the mother and child counselling. It would be nice if this were to change in the future," says Susanne Stucki.

Home visits were and remain free of charge
The home visits, i.e., individual consultations offered by the municipalities by appointment, or telephone consultations are the most frequently used services. The mother and father counselling service in Cham, which takes place at the same time as the professionally managed "Parent-child meeting point", is also actively used – where no advance registration is necessary.

Topic-specific parenting courses are also offered: "And these also include massage courses for babies and their fathers," says Susanne Stucki, who is a trained nurse with a focus on children, adolescents and family.

"For a year now, there has been a service agreement with the City of Zug for the support of young families who are under multiple stress. A mother and father counsellor with specific additional qualifications accompanies the family from pregnancy to the child's third birthday in a developmentally oriented manner," explains Melitta Steiner, who is a trained social pedagogue.

Melitta Steiner (left) and Susanne Stucki in the premises of the Punkto Mütter- und Väterberatung in Baar.
Even after 80 years, topics such as the health of one's own child are the most common. In the picture, consultant Susanne Stucki with a children's scale, which she often uses at consultation appointments.             Photos: Stefan Kaiser (October 31, 2022)
Many mothers still visit the counselling sessions with their little ones. In the picture Susanne Stucki (right) during a consultation of a mother with her child in the Punkto premises in Baar.
An infant care nurse with an infant in the early years of the maternal counselling. At that time, people were struggling with the high infant mortality rate.           Photos: PD
 

The councillors used to be financed by the municipalities and various sponsors, but, today, there is a service agreement between the Punkto association for parents, children and adolescents (Verein Punkto Eltern, Kinder und Jugendliche) and the health department (Gesundheitsdirektion) of the canton of Zug. The consultations and home visits have been and remain been free of charge since the beginning.

Less advice, more solution-oriented counselling
It all began in the middle of the Second World War, when the "Civile Frauendienst des Kantons Zug" (Civic Women's Service of the Canton of Zug) collected old rags, newsprint and metals. Some of the proceeds were used to open the first maternity counselling centre in the canton of Zug. Sister Gertrud Baumer was the first infant caregiver, and supported families for 33 years. Shortly after the opening of the association, she received support from Sister Josy Annen.

The two nuns visited the families at home by bicycle. At that time, people were grateful if the infant survived the first year. The two nuns received a list from the municipalities, with the names of the new parents. The aim was to visit every child regularly in the first year of life. "Even today, we receive the names of the parents from the municipalities, and contact them to draw attention to our offer," says Melitta Steiner.

The Zug Cantonal Bank (ZKB) gave the Zug Maternal Counselling Service a Volkswagen car in 1953, which made home visits much easier. It was not until 35 years after the foundation that the first father attended an infant course in 1977. The profession of infant welfare nurse also continued to develop over time. As of 2024, there is now a federally recognised higher professional examination as an "Early Childhood Counsellor Consultant" (Beraterin/Berater Frühe Kindheit).

Nowadays, referral to other specialists plays an important and central role in the consultations. "Instead of just giving advice, parents are given solution-oriented advice, their skills are strengthened and their experiences are included in the discussion," says Susanne Stucki.