My family knows how important they are to me – even when I am professionally challenged.

In September 2022, for the first time, a woman, Prof. Nicole Ochsenbein-Kölble, became the head of the Maternity Clinic at the largest University Hospital in Switzerland, the University Hospital Zurich. She is also a mother of four children. As a lecturer at ETH Zurich, she researches various scientific questions and is constantly furthering her education. A conversation about full schedules and the important support from the family.

Prof. Ochsenbein, how do you manage to meet all your obligations?

With a very patient husband and very patient children.

So your husband is not a doctor?

No, he is an economist and fortunately can manage his own time. He is much more flexible than I am. But that does not mean he doesn’t occasionally remind me of family duties when I’m working through a weekend again.

Did you ever have to choose between family and career?

No. For me, it was always clear that I wanted children and a family first. At the same time, I always wanted to stand on my own two feet. I was just lucky that my husband supported me – and my children do too. He finds my research projects almost more exciting than I do and thus motivates me when I come home exhausted and still have to sit down at the desk. My children now cook for me. In short: my family supports me tremendously. Otherwise, it wouldn’t work. That’s the main reason why I am where I am today. I have one of the most beautiful professions, even though it is very demanding. And it is essentially the meaningfulness that is crucial in being able to shoulder both.

You have four children, what does that mean?

There is nothing better. And if my husband had come into my life even earlier, we might have continued this discussion a bit further.

What did it mean to have four young children at home?

It was exhausting. We tried everything: childcare, an au pair, and more. My in-laws moved close to us because they were so thrilled after the birth of my first daughter. She had them wrapped around her finger so much that we had coverage for the fringe hours. That was perfect. So we didn’t have to take her to childcare and pick her up because their opening hours were not compatible with our working hours – and certainly not with mine as a doctor. When the other children came, we hired someone. From two children on, it pays off.

Were there moments when you felt uncomfortable as a mother?

Yes, there were and there still are. Like when my children had some performance in kindergarten or school, and all the parents were already sitting on their little chairs and I sneaked in, just in time for my child’s performance. Then to ask yourself: what was it just now that you almost didn’t make it again? Those were such moments. Or when you would have had to divide yourself by 10, which simply isn’t possible. Once, when my son was four, the phone rang because I was on call. We had other plans, but I had to go and explained to him that someone was bleeding and I had to help. He asked: why are you a helper? But on the other hand, I also learned to recognize what really matters: to be there for your own child despite everything. That has always brought me back into balance. And I’ve always told myself, should my children reproach me for not being there, then I would hang up my job.

But your children have never blamed you?

No, but there was also no reason. When I am at home, I am there. Sure, emergencies can happen – I am a doctor, I work in a hospital, it just comes with the territory. But I am in the fortunate position of having a family that knows they are the most important thing to me, even when I am very professionally challenged. That’s why it’s also so important to me that there is leisure time for us. We have clearly defined that. Occasionally something comes up, then everything is turned upside down again. But this flexibility works very well for us.

How do you assess the situation for working mothers in Switzerland?

I was abroad, in Belgium, where there are state childcare centers and no discussion at all about women going back to work despite having children. Here in Switzerland, parents have to organize themselves. And every working mother knows what that means. I also believe that childcare centers are mostly led by women because they are ultimately the ones who suffer if they do not organize themselves.

What experience have you had yourself?

Twenty years ago, it was much worse than now. Back then, there were almost no places; you actually had to apply for a spot before you were pregnant. Fortunately, this has improved. But in the end, it remains the responsibility of the parents and thus often the mothers to organize themselves.

Have you experienced professional disadvantages as a mother?

No, not in my perception. But I also never missed out because my children were sick or anything. I always got it organized, of course, because I had family support. For me, the breastfeeding period was a very good time because I finally had time to write my papers. So in that sense, I’ve always signaled that children are no reason not to work.

What would you advise your daughters and sons?

That they find the right partner. That’s the be-all and end-all. And that there is always a way, you just have to want it. And that they make sure to stand on their own two feet – not to be dependent. That’s how we raise them too. And I’m already looking forward to grandchildren! Then I can pass on the support I’ve received from my children to them too.

You are the director of a clinic, so you also have the responsibility for younger female doctors who may have children. How do you experience this situation?

The experience of one’s own pregnancy and children is very valuable, especially in obstetrics. Anyone who has never experienced it or doesn’t have children at home can’t understand what it means to have to change diapers, wait for an appointment, and the baby wants to do something else at the same time. Or that as a woman, you function differently during pregnancy than otherwise.

Even if the mothers are temporarily absent as a workforce?

Of course, I could say as an employer, a pregnancy means a loss. Or a working mother is a burden because she needs flexibility. But there is always a solution. Our children are the future. That’s why I support it. Of course, if my entire team is pregnant at the same time, I might not see it that way anymore. But if I don’t have understanding and flexibility for this situation, then I wonder who will.

“I also believe that childcare centers are mostly led by women because they are ultimately the ones who suffer if they do not organize themselves.”