You just found out you are expecting abroad. First of all, do not panic. I can imagine there are a million things going through your mind. Perhaps you may be asking yourself questions such as “How can I prepare to give birth abroad?“, “How do I find the support that I need?“, “What happens when you give birth abroad in Germany as a foreigner?” – along with many other questions.

This can be such an exciting time and emotions are running high. It may also feel like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, where one day you are overcome with excitement and happiness, and the next, feeling overwhelmed with having to navigate it all.

This was me a little over a year ago.

I can empathize with the mixed emotions while trying to figure out what to do next – What things should I prepare before labor? What type of support is available for expat parents in Germany? When can I register for a hospital/birth center? It may feel as though, the list of questions continues to grow and answers are getting harder to find. Hopefully, you are surrounded by a strong support group and people who can guide you throughout the process. If you need additional support, then this blog post is for you.

While Germany is a great place to raise children due to the number of resources available, it is not always easy to navigate these as a foreigner or non-German speaker. When I was pregnant, the hardest thing to figure out was 1) What things needed to be done and when? and 2) How can I find access to these resources? Reflecting back on my pre and post-partum experience, I really wish someone would have provided me with a simple checklist of what I needed to do and what support was available to me.

If you are an expecting expat or a family considering having children abroad, here is a quick breakdown based on my experience, of the things I found most important to focus on before and after labor:

Pre-Labor

There is a lot happening during the pre-labor phase. For expecting mothers, you are visiting your Gynecologist frequently – if all is well with the pregnancy and there are no major risks, you may be visiting your doctor approximately once per month). Throughout pregnancy, I focused on a few other important things such as my physical health (doing pre-natal yoga on Youtube), searching for a Pediatrician, and attending birth prep classes at the FamilienGesundheitsZentrum (Family Health Center) – which most major cities in Germany offer a similar resource. While all of these tasks were important in helping me prepare for having a child abroad, there were some key things that I focused on that should be done as soon as you find out that you are expecting. Such as finding a Hebamme (Midwife), family support groups, and registering for birth at the local hospital.

Post-Labor

Now that you know what needs to be done pre-labor, you should have an easier time settling into the first few months of parenting. Hopefully, you have found a Hebamme (Midwife) that is visiting you and baby at home – this is a resource that is fully covered by your insurance (both public and private insurance) and you have found a pediatrician near your home. In post-labor, the focus is more on finding longer-term resources that will help you in the long-run. For example, in post-labor you complete your Elterngeld and Kindergeld application, all part of the major benefits available to foreigner parents in Germany (Parent Allowance and Children Allowance). You also complete other important documentation such as, applying for your child’s passport(s), Rückbildungskurs or labor recovery classes, and most important applying for a Kita (nursery school/Kindergarten) spot. The first year of parenting abroad is important as it sets the foundation for our experience.

By knowing which benefits are available

the earlier we can get started on accessing these resources

the more prepared and empowered we feel.

You will find along this journey that, the key to preparing for this experience is to start searching for these resources as early as possible. While Germany is a great place to have and raise children, you will find that a lot of these resources are limited. For a more detailed list, I have created a printable resource, The Ultimate Childbirth in Germany Checklist for Expats. While simple, this detailed checklist is the most helpful tool I created for myself that helped me stay both organized and in control while preparing to become a first-time parent abroad. Print, save, and share this list and start to feel in control of your journey. I hope this resource for expats serves as a guide to help you get started on preparing for this next (exciting) chapter.