GEBURTZHILFE

I know that I promised not to make this a baby blog…but I do have some interesting stories to tell with this now prevalent part of our life. So here’s a little post about my life as a pregnant woman in Germany:

The military provides us with healthcare here, and at home. In the states, we have a plan option that favors my being seen exclusively at military clinics and hospitals (provided the service I require is offered) and another that allows, with a small co-pay, me to be seen in the private sector. (Hubz has his own rules, as an active duty service member). Now that we are overseas, our plan requires that I am seen at the Army clinic first. However, our base is over subscribed with dependants, so in many cases, you’re seen at the clinic merely for a referral to a German doctor who is approved by our insurance. One such scenario is that of pregnancy. As soon as you confirm the pregnancy with the clinic on base, they send you out in town for your pre-natal care. Thus begins the adventure of German medicine.

Overall, the care I am getting in the German system is impressive. There are some differences that do remind me of the foreigner that I am these days:
-- Regular Ultrasounds - In the states, a normal pregnancy requires two or three ultrasounds. A high risk pregnancy will require a few more. Here, I have had an ultrasound every single time I’ve come into the office. I have more pictures of this developing person that I do of many living members of my family! (I know, I know, our second child is already destined for therapy!). This is delightful and so reassuring, especially in the beginning when you have no outward evidence that your pregnancy is progressing normally. However, it is a bit nerve wracking when you are, like we are, trying not to find out the sex of our baby until it is born!
-- No gowns or drapes – I’m still adjusting to this one. It is well known that Germans (and most Europeans) are just not as modest as we Americans are. When I go in for my exams, they simply tell me “ please remove your pants” and I hop up on the exam table. I’ve learned early to wear a skirt to every appointment – which allows me some maneuverable modesty – but there are no hospital gowns either! So more adventure awaits in this category. I’ll let you know how that turns out!
-- Mutterpass – When you reach the end of your first trimester of pregnancy here, the doctor issues you a Mutterpass (mother’s pass). This is a booklet, kind of like a passport, in which the details of each test and examination are recorded. The thought process is that if I end up in a medical situation during my pregnancy, no matter where I am, the doctor treating me will know and understand every detail of my pregnancy.
-- Labor and Delivery – Germans are more holistic in their approach to medicine. They try to use movement and even herbal remedies before pharmaceuticals. This means that most women deliver without epidurals, and that c-sections are reserved as a last resort exclusively. Also, given the socialized medicine practiced here, most women have had many, many classes preparing them for childbirth. For this reason, it’s the laboring mother who calls the shots about laboring and birthing positions. I’ve even heard stories of laboring women hiking the grounds surrounding the hospital property to move their labor along. So much for my grand plan of showing up and waiting for them to tell me what to do! Also, most babies are born without the doctor in the room. Midwives seem to run the process at the progress of the birth. The Dr will be present to oversee the birth if there is even a slight indication that there may be cause for concern (say, merconium in the amniotic fluid), but even in that situation, the midwives are overseeing the birth.
-- German Hospitals – I already mentioned the lack of hospital gowns. Packing for the hospital means bringing your pajamas. It also means bringing your own ice and water if you think you’ll want it during delivery. There is a drink station in the hallway – self serve! Breakfast and dinner are served in the ward’s cafeteria. Our insurance covers a double room (no curtain). For about another 50 Euro per night, you can have a private room (when considering the process of rooming in with a newborn, we are opting for the private room, if possible – I think one crying baby is enough to deal with when everything is so new!) Meals are typically German (bread and cheese for breakfast, hot lunch, bread and cheese for dinner). And the basic post delivery stay is a minimum of three days for a perfect birth (more if there were any invasive measures taken, including an episiotomy). This is due to the emphasis on healing and resting. Nurses won’t wake you to check on you – or even set their own schedule to test the baby….they tell you what they need to accomplish that day and leave it to you to call them when you’re ready for them to take the baby for the procedure.

So , that’s German medicine in a nutshell – or at least my experiences in it so far! I’ll keep you posted as new experiences reveal themselves!