Hospital, Geburtshaus or home birth — how to choose and register in Germany.
In Germany you can choose where to give birth. Most babies are born in hospital, but birth centres and home births are also possible. Statutory health insurance pays for all three.
Hospital (Klinik)
- Who it suits: any pregnancy. With a higher-risk pregnancy, twins or an expected premature birth, choose a hospital with a neonatal unit (Perinatalzentrum).
- What you get: doctors, a midwife team and, in larger clinics, a neonatal unit.
- Have a look: many hospitals hold information evenings and tours.
- Register: around weeks 30–36; popular clinics fill up earlier.
Birth centre (Geburtshaus)
- Who it suits: healthy pregnancies without complications.
- Run by midwives: calm and personal. If needed, you move to a hospital.
- Cost: insurance pays for the birth, but some birth centres charge an on-call fee (Rufbereitschaftspauschale) that is often only partly refunded. Ask your Krankenkasse.
- Register: early, often in the first half of pregnancy.
Home birth (Hausgeburt)
- Who it suits: low-risk pregnancies; a midwife attends the birth at home.
- Ask early: few midwives offer this.
- Cost: an on-call fee may apply here too.
Your own midwife in hospital (Beleghebamme)
Some midwives can accompany you into hospital, so you are cared for by someone you know. This option is limited, so ask early.
How to choose
- Distance: how far is it, and how long does the drive take?
- Neonatal unit: does the hospital have one?
- Your wishes: how do they handle pain relief, positions and water birth?
- Partner: can your partner stay, and is there a family room?
- Breastfeeding: what is their breastfeeding support like?
- Get advice: talk your plans through with your doctor or midwife. The familienplanung.de birth section explains the options in more detail.
After the birth: the first weeks (Wochenbett)
- Midwife at home: your Hebamme usually cares for you for 12 weeks. Statutory insurance pays up to 20 visits in the first 10 days, then up to 16 more visits or calls. With breastfeeding problems, help can continue longer (gesund.bund.de).
- Household help: if you cannot run the household after the birth and nobody at home can take over, your Krankenkasse pays a Haushaltshilfe. You need a doctor’s certificate; apply early (§ 24h SGB V).
- Postnatal course: insurance pays up to 10 hours of Rückbildungsgymnastik with a midwife or physiotherapist. Finish it by the end of the 9th month after the birth (TK).
- Register the birth within a week (Birth Registration).
Feeling low after the birth?
Mood swings in the first days are common because hormones change. If sadness, fear or mixed feelings about your baby last longer, it may be postpartum depression. It is treatable, and it is not your fault.
- Midwife or doctor: Talk to your midwife or gynaecologist. They can refer you for help.
- Crisis line: Telefonseelsorge, free and 24/7: 116 123.
- Parents’ helpline: Elterntelefon, free and anonymous: 0800 111 0 550.
- Frühe Hilfen: free support for families with children under 3, such as a family midwife visiting at home. Ask your Jugendamt or search on elternsein.info (gesund.bund.de).
Sources