The 10 Things I Learned from Giving Birth in Germany as a Foreigner
As I’m sure anyone who has been through it would say, giving birth is a highly individual experience. However, when you give birth for the first time in a foreign country, there are sure to be a few unique twists. Whether you are reading this as an expecting expat or someone who is interested in what giving birth is like in Germany, you most likely have a few unanswered questions.
What follows below are the top 10 things I learned from giving birth in Germany as a foreigner - from one expat to another.
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#1 No, you can’t just “schedule an induction” in Germany.
I’ve come to consider that some pregnant women must be unicorns. They are rare, wonderful happy creatures who love pregnancy and would stay that way forever if they had their way.
Also like unicorns, I don’t think they are real.
For me, the final weeks of the 3rd trimester were a kind of riff on the film ‘Groundhog Day’. Each day you are prepared to rush to the hospital at a moment’s notice. Your bags are packed at waiting by the door. You find yourself second guessing every twinge or cramp as a potential labor contraction. At each doctor’s visit you are wishfully hopeful for any indication from your Frauenarzt that labor is nearing.
Unfortunately, I found myself nearly 41 weeks pregnant without any kind of indication that our son was arriving.
As I outline in our post on pregnancy in Germany, once you go past your due date your visits to the Frauenarzt increase from every 2 weeks to every 2-3 days. However, unlike what is standard in the United States - I found that scheduling an induction in Germany doesn’t automatically happen at 40 weeks. Rather, my Frauenarzt wouldn’t recommend a scheduled induction until I hit 41 weeks.
(Disclaimer: For some women, as long as you and the baby are healthy, your doctor may let you go even further past 41 weeks. This was the case with a good friend of mine in Germany who had her son at 42 weeks. However, since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes it was advised that I not go past 41 weeks.)
While I haven’t personally given birth in the United States, I also found it somewhat odd that it was up to me to schedule my induction at the Kreißsaal (delivery room). Prior to having a baby in Germany as a foreigner, I would have presumed that my doctor’s office would handle this. But instead at 41 weeks and 5 days, I was handed the telephone number and told to call on my own and schedule an appointment in 48 hours.
In the end, my son only needed the threat of eviction. He finally made his exit independently the night before our scheduled induction. When looking back, I don’t know if the resistance for scheduling birth is a product of the German mentality of “natural is best” or the fact that public insurance only pays for “necessary” procedures (in this case, scheduling a birth unless medically necessary would be considered elective).
Either way, we got a happy healthy baby - albeit with a bit of wait.
#2 Alternative pain management for labor in Germany is widely utilized.
Birthing Tubs, aromatherapy, acupuncture, soothing music and mood lighting - these are usually pain management methods that are a luxury usually reserved for at-home births or in a special birthing center. However, in Germany they are standard offerings at most hospitals.
When I gave birth to our son at a major University hospital, I was told that I needed to be at least 3 centimeters dilated for an epidural. Therefore, my midwives suggested I try alternative pain management in the meantime.
I got into a warm bath that they had drawn for me. The midwife put on soothing music, had essential oils in a diffuser and dimmed the lighting to help me relax.
Furthermore, although I did not opt for it - I was told that there was a specialist on hand for acupuncture if I so desired.
Although I still very much wanted the epidural (and was thankful for it when it came) - I did find considerable relief from the alternative pain management methods.
German Hospital Breakfast
Apple, bread, jam and tea.
German Hospital Lunch
Spätzle, soup and salad.
German Hospital Dinner
Couscous, cheese, tomato, pear and tea
#3 Bring Snacks.
To be frank, German hospitals are not known for the cuisine.
I have been to the hospital 3 times in Germany, and each time I am reminded of the fact that their food offerings leave a lot to be desired and devoured - both in quality and quantity.
Lunch will be your largest (and most varied) meal of the day. However, both breakfast and dinner consist of a single slice of bread with meat and cheese, another bread roll (with jam and butter in the morning), and one small side (typically yogurt in the morning and a vegetable in the evening).
While some might be thinking - “that’s not so bad, I don’t eat much anyway”. I should share that there have been few hungers I have encountered in life like a postpartum woman breastfeeding. I swear I eat more now than I did when I was pregnant.
I found that the protein bars we had originally packed for Jonathan to eat during labor became a lifeline for my 3am hunger pains - because let’s be honest, you will be awake at 3am.
#4 Yes, doctors speak English in Germany.
Normally, I make an effort to speak German in most situations… but I don’t think childbirth counts as a “normal” situation.
When trying to communicate your health needs/options for you and your unborn child to your healthcare provider it is best that you 100% understand each other. This is especially so when you are under the stress and pain of labor.
Thankfully, all of the doctors and midwives that I encountered at the Kreißsaal spoke English.
#5 You are encouraged to stay longer for recovery.
In the United States, after a “typical” birth you can anticipate staying in the hospital for 24 hours before heading home. In Germany, you are encouraged to stay a bit longer.
After a “typical” vaginal birth, a stay of 2-3 days is encouraged. Following a c-section in Germany, this extends to 5-7 days.
Of course, you can shorten this if you so desire. No one holds you hostage at the hospital. However, there are some advantages to staying for the extended length of time.
For starters, in Germany there is a standard examination schedule, called U-Screening (Untersuchung). U-1 happens nearly immediately after birth. During this examination, the midwife or doctor checks the baby's skin color, breathing, heart activity, muscle tone and reflexes.
The U-2 occurs between day 2-7 of the child’s life. If you stay in the hospital for the recommended period, you do not need to schedule this with your pediatrician (Kinderarzt). Instead, this occurs with the on-call pediatrician at the hospital - saving you another trip out of the house with a brand new baby while you are recovering.
The other advantage to a longer postpartum stay is additional maternal care from the midwives and physicians. Any questions you have regarding your own health, the health and wellbeing of your baby, and breastfeeding can be attended to with extra care and attention during those important early days.
For example, it turned out that our son had a significant tongue-tie which was impeding his ability to suckle during breastfeeding or with a bottle. Because I stayed in the hospital for 5 days following my c-section, we were able to arrange for a specialist to come to our room and perform the quick surgery to fix it.
#6 The hospital helps you to register your new child and apply for birth certificates in Germany.
Life in Germany is characterized by copious amounts of paperwork. And thus it comes as no surprise, small humans still have large amounts of paperwork.
Thankfully, before leaving the hospital, you have an appointment with a clerk at the hospital who helps to complete all of the required forms and submit the application for birth certificates for your little one. This was wonderful and saved us a trip to city hall (Rathaus/Bürgeramt) with a newborn.
Make sure to pack all legal documentation for you and your partner in order to complete this process.
Although requirements change depending on the legal status and nationality of both parents, if you are having a baby in Germany as a foreigner, you will need:
Original & Photocopy of German Residence Permits (Aufenthaltstitel)
Original & Photocopy of Passport
Both Partner’s Birth Certificates (Certified Copy or Original)
Marriage License (Certified Copy or Original), if applicable.
City Registration (Anmeldung)
The hospital clerk will take these from you and they will be returned via mail along with your child’s new documentation within 7-10 days.
If you are interested in learning more - I discuss many of these registration and birth certificate requirements in our post on pregnancy in Germany.
#7 Your baby stays with you in your room.
Although this practice is becoming much more widespread, many of my family members in the United States found it odd that there was not a “nursery” that the babies go to in the maternity ward. Rather, after giving birth in Germany you will find a bedside bassinet and the expectation that your baby stays with you during your stay.
That is not to say that there is no help at all for new mothers who desperately need a break. You can always ask a midwife to take your baby for you for a short duration if necessary.
For example, before the emergency c-section I had labored for 13 hours through the night with Jack. To say I was exhausted by the following night was an understatement. Thankfully one of the midwives offered to take Jack while I got some sleep - and it was wonderful.
However, for the following days/nights during my stay, Jack was with me at all times.
#8 Sharing a Room is Standard.
One of the biggest items that Jonathan and I debated before the birth of our son was whether or not we would try to get a private room (called a “Family Room”) for the postpartum recovery period.
Unlike the United States, a private room is not part of standard care with public healthcare in Germany. Rather, you will be sharing a room with another patient (and her baby).
This is not to say that you cannot request a private room. The “Family Rooms” as they are called come at a premium. In addition to having a room to yourself, the beds are larger which allow for your husband to stay with you and your new baby overnight.
With premium upgrades comes a premium price. If you are a private insurance holder, you get priority for these rooms and they are likely to be included as a free perk with your insurance premiums. Depending on your hospital, private “family rooms” in Germany cost roughly 120-180 euros per night with public insurance (ours was at the very high end of this).
I was also told during the registration process at our local hospital that you could not simply reserve a private “family room” for one night. If you wanted a private room, you had to stay in the private room for the duration of your hospital stay. This, however, may change depending on your local hospital’s policy. But because I ended up needing a c-section and stayed for 5 days postpartum in the hospital, we ended up electing for a shared room.
The shared room presented both positives and negatives. On the one hand, there was a bit of awkwardness when my roommate’s family came to visit. They are having an intimate family moment where loved ones meet the baby for the first time...and you’re just sort of right there.
On the other hand, because I gave birth during a global pandemic, visitors could only come for 1 hour per day. With all of this downtime, having another person to chat with was really quite nice. Plus with our newborns being only hours apart in age, I found the camaraderie in midnight diaper changes comforting.
Overall, whether or not you elect for a private room in the maternity ward is a personal choice. I would say that with our next baby we will probably still stick with a shared room again. It really was not as much of an “intrusion” as many make it out to be.
#9 TV and internet access are considered “extras”.
At the risk of sounding like a privileged westerner - I still find it somewhat comical that TV and internet access are “extras” that you have to pay for these days. In an era where free wifi is becoming widely available in public parks, museums, cafes, and even grocery stores in Germany - the fact that I still need to pay for these services while in the hospital is a bit absurd.
While TV and internet may not be “must haves” for most - after having a baby, I spent a significant amount of time during my 5 day stay video calling family back home. Sharing our new son with pictures and video was such a comforting activity when your loved ones are so far away - even when there isn’t a pandemic ravaging the globe.
Once more, due to COVID restrictions, Jonathan could only visit for 1 hour per day. Being able to video chat with him was an important tool for him to bond with Jack during those early days.
Thankfully, because I am a Phd student at the University and gave birth at the University hospital, I was already privileged to wifi access without needing to “pay per use” and be billed later on. When I was wide awake after feeding and changing Jack for the 1,00th time in the middle of the night, being able to watch some Netflix while he slept was a nice distraction. In this case, my iPad and headphones became an essential item in my suitcase for what to pack when giving birth in Germany as a foreigner.
However, if you do not have access to wifi or would like to watch TV, it is good to ask your hospital about those charges during your registration.
#10 Trust Them.
While it may seem like a given, the final thing I learned from giving birth in Germany is to trust in the healthcare team. Before I went into labor, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a bit skeptical of the birth process. In the United States, your OBGYN (Frauenarzt) is the same doctor who delivers your baby. In Germany, this is not the case. Your baby will be delivered by whomever is on call.
Furthermore, if you have a midwife already lined up who will help you with postpartum care - at many hospitals (including mine) she will not be allowed to attend the birth either. Once more, the midwives who assist with the birth depend who is working that particular shift. (Keep in mind - at some smaller, private hospitals your midwife may be allowed to attend. Check with your hospital).
This uncertainty of my healthcare team, coupled with the anxiety of being in a foreign country and giving birth during a pandemic was quite overwhelming. There was even a 9 hour period of my labor in which Jonathan wasn’t able to attend because I wasn’t “progressed far enough”. I could have felt very alone - but I didn’t.
I cannot stress this enough - trust them. I found the team that accompanied me during my labor and eventual emergency c-section to be not only highly competent but incredibly supportive, encouraging, and kind. At no point did I ever feel that my quality of care was compromised. I was truly in the best hands possible to secure the safe arrival of our son.
So while there may be many aspects of having a baby in Germany that can seem daunting and anxiety inducing - the quality of care that you receive from the staff is not one of them.
Trust the process and trust that you will deliver your new bundle of joy surrounded by a great team.
What to Pack on Your Day of Delivery
#1 - Bring your own Sleep Shirt or Nightgown
Unlike the United States, many hospitals do not give you a hospital gown. You need to pack your own in your hospital bag.
This Doahara nightdress is a clean and elegant design with a v-neck to help with breastfeeding.
This highly rated and reviewed Italian Fashion "Comet' nightdress includes more design and patterns, also with features to ease breastfeeding.
If you will only wear this once, consider this low cost option from Mija.
#2 - Bring Plenty of Snacks
As I've described above, many German hospitals may not meet your hunger demands. Bring snacks for you and your partner to get you between meals and then some. Plus, stress hunger is a real thing!
This assortment of Clif Bars will help nail different cravings.
This sugar free, organic and vegan option form Green Panda is another great healthy option.
A mixed box of Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars are always a good go-to.
#3 - Toiletry Bag
Just like going on a trip, prepare and pack your toiletry bag for everything you'll need throughout the day.
Don't forget yours and your partner's toothbrush and toothpaste.
#4 - Slippers, flip flops, or house shoes
Before and after pregnancy, leaning down to put on your shoes and tie them may not even be possible. Pack slip on shoes to keep this process as easy and relaxed as possible.
#5 - Robe or Cardigan
Temperatures in the hospital can vary. For me it was hot in the evening and cold in the morning when 'Lufting' occurred. Pack a robe or cardigan to account for temperature changes.
#6 - Chargers and Devices
Pack your phone, tablet and other electronic device chargers. If you have an extra-long cable, you will be in luck. From my experience, a plug which could be utilized for charging my phone was too far away to use the standard cable.
#7 - Baby Going Home Clothes & Diaper Bag
Many hospitals will provide new baby clothing during a patient stay to ease washing and diaper changes. However, when it's time go go home, you should have your own clothing and diaper bag ready.
