Hospitals, Doctors and (!) Dentists

1. Find a good Frauenarzt!

Despite so many things having happened since the birth, pregnancy doesn't feel like a distant memory. I still recall the nervousness and excitement of finding out I was pregnant and the sudden shock at realising I'd have to finally find a good 'Frauenarzt' (gyn) to confirm my findings. Maybe you already have a great one, if not then here are a few pointers:

• Try and find someone relatively close to your house - the bigger your belly gets the happier you'll be about not having to travel too far for those more regular appointments as the due date nears
• Type in 'Frauenarzt' + the name of your district+Berlin into Google and see what comes up - follow the ratings if possible. I can try and create a page here for recommendations
• Make sure you feel comfortable with him/her - and that they speak at least a basic version of your language!
• Ask about possible tests, such as the diabetes test and the seemingly endless blood tests, well in advance - if possible make a note of all these things so you have a clear overview of when/what should/might take place, and which tests are covered by your health insurance
• The doctors here are pretty notorious for dealing with patients 'quickly' - take your time, ask all the questions you need to and if possible come prepared with a list of written queries

There is a separate page to refer to for information about midwives


2. Start thinking about where you want to give birth

Of course this can start a little later on and there's no point spending too long 'preparing' for this one as things can change up until the very last moment. There are a few choices about where - the main ones being: Home, Hospital or a Geburtshaus.

Hospital

You will probably get a lot of friends advising you this or the other hospital, but at the end of the day you just have to go with the one you feel most secure about - there are a few factors involved:

• distance from home - depending on how birth goes (whether you have a natural birth or cesearean, whether you decide to stay in the hospital or go home the same day) you might want to feel 'close' to home. Some hospitals allow for the father to stay, some who normally would are overrun and new dad has to go home.
• facilities - a few hospitals have pediatricians on-site at the hospital round the clock, and a few don't (but can call one in in an emergency). The best thing to do is go to one of the introductory sessions or open days. Personally I wouldn't advise going to every single maternity ward Berlin has to offer, maybe make a selection of 2 or 3 and check those out first, remembering to register beforehand (sometimes obligitory).
• midwife - if you have opted for a 'Beleghebamme' then you will be giving birth at the hospital she is assigned to. Otherwise it is good to get an idea of the midwifery style by visiting the hospital/clinic as stated above. I was told that if you don't 'like' your midwife assigned then it is possible to demand someone else - although during the throes of labour this might not be the first issue you are concerned about.
• another issue to consider and also ask about is this - once the baby is born, where do I register the birth. If you opt for a hospital that is not in your district you may end up having to register the birth at the Standesamt in the hospital's district and not your own. This sounds odd, and believe me I haven't worked out the beaurocracy behind that one yet, but that's just the way it is. For example, giving birth at Havelhöhe means a Spandau-registered baby, meaning also potential trips to and from Spandau even after the baby is born to deal with administration (although probably only once). It is worth while asking about this aspect at the introductory session. Don't let that put you off choosing a hospital you really like the vibe of however!