All pregnant women have a right to regular prenatal check-ups, at first once a month, and then later on every two weeks. They include physical examinations like feeling the tummy and regularly taking blood. The results are documented in your maternity records.
Every pregnant woman is given maternity records, which help doctors and midwives monitor how the pregnancy is going. These records document important data about the child’s development and the woman’s health. The maternity records also contain information that can be useful for the birth or in an emergency. That is why it is advisable to always have them with you. They are personal documents, and you are the only person who decides who is allowed to see them.
Maternity records can be either a paper document or digital as part of your digital medical records. Both contain the same information. You can choose whichever you prefer.
It is important to keep your maternity records after your baby is born, either as a paper copy or in your digital medical records. The information is important for any future pregnancies.
We have put together an overview of what is in your maternity records. You can download a template from the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) website .
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In Germany, pregnant women with statutory health insurance can have a prenatal check-up every four weeks. They are offered every two weeks as of the 32nd week of pregnancy. All examinations are voluntary. More regular check-ups are possible if there are certain risk factors or health problems.
Almost all of the prenatal examinations can be done either by your doctor or your midwife. Exceptions are the ultrasound scans and blood tests for the child's Rh factor - only doctors are allowed to do them. Standard prenatal care in Germany includes three ultrasound scans, done around the 10th, 20th and 30th weeks of pregnancy.
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Particularly at your first appointment, your doctor or midwife will ask you detailed questions about
They will also ask you about how any previous pregnancies went, such as whether the children were born naturally or via C-section, or if you have ever had a miscarriage.
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The estimated due date is noted in your maternity records. It is calculated
The week of pregnancy and the predicted due date can be assessed more accurately during the first ultrasound scan. If needed, the due date can be updated in the maternity records.
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Every prenatal check-up includes
If needed, any physical changes like water retention (edema) and varicose veins can be examined, too.
A gynecological examination via the vagina is done at the first appointment as well. That is only necessary at the following check-ups if you have certain symptoms.
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A urine sample is taken at every appointment and tested for protein and sugar to check for signs of metabolic disorders or kidney disease.
The urine sample from the first appointment is also tested for chlamydia. That is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect the pregnancy and the child.
Blood is taken at one of the first prenatal appointments to
A blood test to find out the child’s Rh factor is possible as of the 12th week of pregnancy if the pregnant woman is Rh negative and is only expecting one child. The Rh factor tells whether the mother's and child’s blood is compatible if it is mixed during birth, like if the placenta or umbilical cord is damaged.
Every pregnant woman who doesn't have diabetes can be tested for gestational diabetes between the 25th and 28th week of pregnancy. For the first test, you drink a glass of water with glucose dissolved in it. One hour later, a sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm to determine the blood sugar level. If the level is found to be high, a second test is done.
A hepatitis B test is offered as of the 32nd week of pregnancy.
Tests for toxoplasmosis, cytomegaly, listeriosis, and streptococci are an option if there is a risk that you have been infected. In Germany, statutory health insurers will then cover the costs of the tests. Otherwise, you will have to pay for these tests yourself as what are known as individual health care services (IGeL) . Some doctor’s practices recommend these tests even if there is no suspected infection . It is then a good idea to ask what advantage they offer.
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All pregnant women are offered three ultrasound scans :
The main purpose of the ultrasound scans is to work out how old the unborn baby is and to check how it is developing. During the scans, your gynecologist will check the position of the placenta and how much amniotic fluid there is. They will measure the baby and listen to its heartbeat. Ultrasound scans can also show the sex of a child.
If an ultrasound scan finds abnormalities or uncertainties, further examinations can be carried out to clarify things.
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Vaccinations against influenza and whooping cough are recommended for pregnant women. Your doctor or midwife can advise you on them.
You can discuss any other questions you might have at any time during prenatal check-ups. Your doctor or midwife will normally address the following subjects:
Lots of questions that might come up during pregnancy don't involve health first and foremost. Pregnant women and their partners can always contact a pregnancy advice center. You can discuss things like financial or legal questions there, as well as any other concerns or problems you might encounter in connection with the pregnancy. The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) lists possible subjects you can seek advice about and offers an information center search function .
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