In no time at all, your pregnancy will be nearing its term and your baby will be on their way! This page looks at some key information to help you prepare for giving birth in Germany.
Your birth plan will look different depending on where you have decided to give birth in Germany. Generally speaking, expectant mothers have three options: you can give birth in a hospital, a birthing centre, or at home.
Of the three, German hospitals offer the best standard of medical care - that is, there will be doctors on-hand, should there be any complications, and they can offer different medications like epidurals, as well as all methods of delivery from birthing balls to water births. A hospital is the best place to give birth for a high-risk pregnancy. Maternity wards usually have two to four beds with bathroom facilities. There might also be a family room, so that your partner can stay overnight.
Birthing centres are a relatively new concept that straddle the line between hospital births and home births. Designed to offer a more homely environment, birthing centres are managed by midwives and offer more desirable facilities like private rooms, birthing pools and outpatient treatments - meaning you can usually leave within a few hours of giving birth. However, unless the birthing centre is attached to a hospital, there are no emergency services on site, so if you did have a complication, they would have to call an ambulance.
Home births are increasing in popularity and may be appropriate for pregnancies involving few complications (for instance for people having their second or third child) - although you should consider how long it might take you to get to the hospital, were something to go wrong.
Wherever you have chosen to give birth, you’ll need to do pretty much the same thing once your labour starts. If you think you are in labour, you should call ahead (if you have time) and describe your condition to the call handler. They will ask you about your contractions and let you know whether it’s time for you to come in (or for them to come to you, if you are giving birth at home).
If you are heading to a hospital or birthing centre, you will need to bring your Mutterpass. You should also bring an overnight bag containing nightclothes, a dressing gown, slippers, personal toiletries and a towel. Once you arrive, you will be examined to make sure you are actually in labour and, if so, you will be checked into a birthing room (Kreißsaal).
After the birth, you will be given some time to recover, either in hospital or at home. A standard hospital stay following birth is around three days in Germany (more in the case of a caesarean section (Kaiserschnitt)), but you are permitted to request an early release immediately after the baby has had their first check by the paediatrician (known as the Erstuntersuchung für das Baby / U1). If you want to leave early, you need to check beforehand that your chosen paediatrician can come to your home to do the second check (U2), three to five days after the birth.
If you decide to remain in hospital, during your first few recovery days you will be regularly checked on by nurses, who can assist you with breastfeeding and bathing. Your baby will undergo several tests to make sure they are healthy.
It’s worth noting that in Germany, hospitals generally ask for the baby’s name soon after birth. Note that double-barreled surnames are generally not permitted in Germany unless the parents are unmarried when the baby is born. That law should however soon be updated.
After the birth, you will continue to receive regular visits from your midwife to check on both you and the baby. If you gave birth in a hospital or birthing centre, you need to make sure to collect some important pieces of paperwork before you leave:
As well as receiving visits from your midwife and paediatrician, as a new mother in Germany you are entitled to postnatal care (Rückbildungskurs) in the form of exercise classes. This is usually covered by your health insurance company.
During the course, you will be shown how to do exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor, to help avoid future problems. You will also receive information and practical instructions to help you in your everyday life with your new baby.
If you are feeling well enough, you can start a postnatal recovery course as soon as three days after giving birth.
Babies, infants and young children in Germany are recommended several vaccinations, some of them administered shortly after birth. This includes vaccinations against:
Note that all children in Germany must be vaccinated against measles in order to attend a daycare facility or school.
If you didn’t start searching during your pregnancy, now that your baby is here it is time to find them a childcare place, if you need one.
Since 2013, all children in Germany aged 12 months and above have a legal right to a childcare place, which is partially or fully subsidised by the government depending on the German state you live in.
There are a wide range of childcare options in Germany, but availability can be tight, especially in large German cities.
To help new parents with the costs associated with having a new baby, many public health insurance companies in Germany grant a one-off bonus known as a “Babybonus”. It usually has a cash value of somewhere between 30 and 450 euros, or might come in the form of a small gift.
To qualify for the baby bonus, you’ll need to have taken all recommended medical measures during and after your pregnancy, for instance attending ultrasound scans, submitting to early detection examinations, or having your child immunised. Your child will also need to be insured with the relevant health insurance company.
Your health insurer may also cover or subsidise the costs of other activities for your new baby, including:
Your new baby needs to be registered at the registry office (Standesamt) within seven days of the birth in order to receive a birth certificate and a tax ID (even babies get them in Germany!) Once you have a birth certificate you can also apply for child benefit and a passport for your child. Since June 2024, any baby born in Germany to at least one parent who has been a legal resident in the federal republic for five years or more is entitled to German citizenship.
Eight weeks after your birth (or 12 weeks after a premature or multiple birth), your maternity leave will end. Depending on what you have decided, this may mean going back to work or starting your parental leave. If you want to go on parental leave, you need to notify your employer at least seven weeks before your leave starts. In principle, you should submit your application within one week of the child’s birth.
As new parents, both you and your partner are entitled to Germany’s generous parental allowance.