Pregnancy in Germany

First steps

If you think you are pregnant, you can buy an at home pregnancy kit from a drug store such as dm or Rossmann, a pharmacy or most supermarket. If the test comes back positive, you should visit a gynecologist (frauenarzt). There are many gynecologists in Germany, a simple google search will give you a selection to choose from, have a look at your options and book an appointment with the gynecologist you prefer. I recommend using https://www.doctolib.de/. Here you can see the doctors in you area, when the next available appointments are and if they take only privately (privat) insured patients, or both publicly (gesetzlich) and privately insured patients.

At your first appointment it is likely that your gynecologist will take a blood and urine sample to ensure that baby is doing well. An ultrasound examination will determine the expected date of birth. You can also ask for a confirmation of pregnancy (Schwangerschaftsbestätigung) to present to your employer.

Mutterrpass

You will receive a mutterpass at your first appointment. It is a small booklet in which all the results of your check-ups during pregnancy are documented. It is important to keep this booklet safe and take it with you whenever you go to your gynaecologist, midwife or hospital. You also need to take it along to the hospital when you give birth.

Prenatal care

After this initial appointment, you will have appointments every 4 weeks until 32 weeks and every two weeks thereafter. During these appointments you will give a urine sample, have you blood pressure measured, have your weight checked and sometimes you will give a sample of blood. The baby’s heartbeat is also checked and an ultrasound is performed. In months 3, 6 and 8, a comprehensive ultrasound test is performed to check the baby’s development.

As well as the regular check-ups, there are prenatal diagnostic tests (pränataldiagnostik) that detect signs of malformations or developmental disorders in your unborn child. These tests are optional (my husband and I opted not to take them) and you will have to cover the costs on your own. Health insurance will only pay the cost if the doctor suspects there are complications with the fetus.

Finding a midwife (hebamme)

A midwife (hebamme) is a trained health care professional who cares for mothers and newborns. They will come to your home, administer check-ups and support you before, during and after the birth of your child. Your health insurance covers the costs of this care. A midwife is usually your primary carer at your child’s birth however it may not be the same midwife who administers your home visit. I highly recommend that you find a midwife as early as possible as they are in very high demand. I started searching for a midwife when I was around 6 months and I ended up having two separate midwifes (prenatal and postnatal), the search was also incredibly stressful so trust me when I say, the earlier the better! In some Germany cities, it is possible to find English-speaking midwives - I did. I recommend using Hebammensuche  to search for a midwife near you.

Prenatal classes (Geburtsvorbereitung)

I recommend completing a prenatal course (Schwangerschaftsvorbereitung or Geburtsvorbereitung) to learn more about the child birth process and how you can prepare for it. The costs for mum are covered by health insurance. There are some courses that dad can join however this is not covered by insurance. In these classes, you learn all about the childbirth process, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, labour positions and you can ask any and all questions you have. Your doctor or midwife can advise you on the local course availabilities.

Registering at the hospital

When you have decided which hospital you want to give birth in, it is highly recommended that you pre-register so all the arrangements can be made in advance. I had an appointment at my chosen hospital and they discussed the steps to take once I started labour. I took my mutterpass, passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate (if you are married) to the appointment.

Giving birth at the hospital

If you think you are in labour, call your chosen hospital to let them know. My husband called ours when I started having contractions and they said we should stay at home until my contractions were 3 - 5 minutes apart. When we reached these intervals we called them again to let them know we were on our way. Don’t forget your mutterpass when going to the hospital. At the hospital you will be examined to confirm 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 before being taken to the ward with your baby. How long you stay in hospital can range between 2 and 7 days. I stayed for 2 nights. Whilst I was there I was checked on by the nurses and the midwives who also helped me with breastfeeding. Our baby also underwent various tests to make sure he was healthy.

Don’t forget to let your midwife know when you are going to the hospital and after you give birth.

Leaving the hospital

Before leaving the hospital there are 3 important documents you must collect:

1. Your mutterpass which will contain all the details of your delivery

2. A child’s examination book (Kinderuntersuchungsheft), all the babies medical information will be stored here

3. A record of birth (Geburtsbescheinigung) signed by the midwife or the doctor

Your midwife will come and visit you at home to check on both you and the baby.

Registering the birth

You must register your baby within one week after delivery at the Registry Office (Standesamt), or in the hospital before you leave, in the town you had your baby. This is so you can receive the birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) and tax ID for your child. You need to take the following documents to the Registry Office:

• Record of birth (Geburtsbescheinigung)

• Your ID card (as the mother) and the father's ID card (if you are married or in case the father has acknowledged paternity)

• Your birth certificate (as the mother) and the father's birth certificate (if you are married or in case the father has acknowledged paternity)

• Your marriage certificate (if you are married to the child's father)

• Confirmation of paternity recognition (if you are not married to the child's father but the father's name is recorded on the birth certificate)

You will receive multiple copies of the birth certificcate so you can organise child benefits and health insurance for your child. You will also need the birth certificate when applying for identity cards, a passport and registration at nurseries and schools.

If you want an international birth certificate, you can get this at the Registry Office (Standesamt) for the same fee in French, German, or English.

Your hospital bag

If you look online or on social media, ladies will recommend a range of ‘essentials’ you should take to the hospital. Here’s what I packed in my bag. Feel free to do more research to compare lists before you pack your bag. The list below is what I took as a first time mum.

For mum - general

• Mutterpass

• Health insurance card

• Comfortable Pyjamas

• Comfy socks (in case it’s cold)

• Slippers (both for the shower and comfy ones)

• Towel (hospitals in Germany do not provide you with one)

• Nursing bras

• Going home outfit

For mum - toiletries

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Sponge/flannel

• Body wash

• Body cream

• Face wash

• Disposable underwear (I highly recommend) or normal underwear

• Postpartum Pads

• Nipple Cream

• Lidocaine spray (a numbing spray, I ended up not using it)

• Peri bottle

For baby

• Car seat

• Blanket

• Onesies

• Going home outfit

• Jacket

• Wipes (provided by the hospital so I didn’t actually use our own)

• Nappies (also provided by the hospital)

In Germany, the hospital will provide clothes for the baby during your stay, you just need a going home outfit however I took some onesies as a backup just in case.

Other

• Polaroid camera

• Speaker

• Baby memory book

• Phone charger

• Extension cable

Parental Allowance (Elterngeld)

Requirements for parental allowance

The following criteria need to be met in order to be eligible for parental allowance:

• You look after the child yourself from birth

• You do not work a paid job for more than 32 hours a week whilst you are receiving the allowance

• You are a German/ EU/ EEA citizen or you have a permanent residence permit or a residence permit that allows you to work in Germany

• You and your partner’s total annual income does not exceed €200,000 (€150,000 for single parents).

How much parental allowance will I receive?

Elterngeld (parental allowance) in Germany is calculated based on the income you earned in the 12 months before the birth of your child (or before the start of your maternity leave). The amount you receive depends on your net income and is designed to replace a percentage of it, with lower earners receiving a higher replacement rate than higher earners. Here's a breakdown of how Elterngeld is calculated:

1. Basic Elterngeld (Basiselterngeld) Calculation:

• Income between €1,240 and €2,770: You receive 65% of your previous net income.

• Income between €1,000 and €1,239: You receive 67% of your previous net income.

• Income below €1,000: The replacement rate increases gradually to 100% for very low-income earners. For example, if your income was €500, you would receive closer to 100% of that amount.

• Minimum and Maximum Amounts:

  • Minimum payment: €300 per month, even if you had no previous income.

  • Maximum payment: €1,800 per month.

2. ElterngeldPlus Calculation:

ElterngeldPlus is an option if you plan to work part-time during your parental leave. The amount you receive is half of the Basic Elterngeld but can be paid for double the time.

• If you were entitled to €1,000 per month under Basiselterngeld, you would receive €500 per month under ElterngeldPlus but for twice the period (e.g., 24 months instead of 12).

3. Bonus for Siblings and Multiples:

• If you have other children under 3 years old, or multiple children under 6 years old, you can receive a sibling bonus. This amounts to an extra 10% of your Elterngeld, but at least €75 per month.

• If you have twins or multiples, you receive an additional €300 per month for each additional child.

4. Part-Time Income during Parental Leave:

If you work part-time during the period you receive Elterngeld, the parental allowance will be adjusted based on your income after the birth. The difference between your previous income and your part-time income is calculated, and your Elterngeld will compensate a percentage of that difference.

How long is parental allowance paid?

Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is paid for up to 14 months in total, under specific conditions:

• Basic Parental Allowance (Basiselterngeld): One or both parents can claim this for a total of 12 months. However, the duration can be extended to 14 months if both parents share the parental leave, with each parent receiving at least 2 months. The idea is to encourage both parents to participate in childcare.

• Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus): This option is more flexible and allows parents to receive half the monthly amount of the basic parental allowance but for double the time. For example, instead of 12 months, you could receive parental allowance for up to 24 months. ElterngeldPlus can also be combined with part-time work.

• Partnership Bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus): This bonus provides an additional 4 months of ElterngeldPlus if both parents work part-time (25-30 hours per week) simultaneously during this period.

In summary, the exact duration depends on how the parents split the leave, whether they opt for ElterngeldPlus, and if they qualify for the Partnership Bonus.

How to apply for parental allowance

If you live in the following places you can apply for parental allowance online via the ElterngeldDigital portal (in German)

• Berlin

• Brandenburg

• Bremen

• Hamburg

• Lower Saxony

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

• Rhineland-Palatinate

• Saxony-Anhalt

• Schleswig-Holstein

• Thuringia

If the digital application is not yet available in your city, you will need to fill out the application form and submit it to your local parental allowance office (Elterngeldstelle.) Other documents that will be needed are:

• Your child’s birth certificate

• Identification of parents such as identity card or passport

• Aufenthaltstitel und Zusatzblatt (Working permit with additional sheet. For non EU and EEA citizens)

• Proof of income, such as employment contract or statements from your bank account

• Details of maternity benefit (if applicable)

• Employer’s certificate (Arbeitgeberbeschenigung)

It takes approximately 4 weeks for your application to be processed then you will receive a written decision in the post.

Child benefits (Kindergeld)

Claiming child benefits

If you are a German or EU citizen living in Germany then you are entitled to child benefit. If you are a foreign national living in Germany you are entitled to child benefit as long as you have a valid temporary residence permit or settlement permit. It is worth noting, that you should not be receiving child benefits from your anywhere else, including your home country.

Only one parent can claim child benefit so you and your partner should decide who will receive it. If you and the baby’s father are separated, the primary caregiver should claim the child benefit.

Age limit

You can receive child benefit every month until your child turns 18. However, there are some instances in which child benefit can still be claimed beyond 18:

• Your child is unemployed and registered as a job-seeker with an Employment Agency (up to age 21)

• Your child is in education or training (up to age 25 or the completion of their first vocational qualification or degree)

• Your child has a disability and needs support (up to age 25)

Amount of child benefit

Child benefit is a fixed amount of €250 per month, per child that is usually deposited into your bank account. The same amount is paid to all parents regardless of parents’ income.

Applying for child benefit

You can download the child benefit application or fill it out online here.

You will need both your tax ID and your child’s tax ID for the application. The application needs to be printed, signed and sent to the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse).