I gave birth to a gorgeous, healthy baby in Munich in 2021. If you’re pregnant in Munich and wondering where to start, book your first appointment with a Frauenarztpraxis (gynaecology practice) and look for a Hebamme (midwife) straight away. Finding a midwife was my priority. I wanted someone I could turn to once the baby arrived.
Pregnancy was exciting, but sorting out the paperwork and making cold calls in Germany was another matter. I had four things to organise: a gynaecologist, a midwife, a place to give birth and a paediatrician. Some calls went better than others. Here’s what I learned, along with where to check the arrangements today.
Updated
Finding a gynaecologist in Munich and getting your Mutterpass
Start by calling a gynaecology practice. Say you’re pregnant, ask when they’d like to see you and find out what to bring. I’d start with practices near home. You’ll be going back for check-ups, so it helps if the journey is straightforward. If you’d prefer to speak English, ask when you call. The 116117 English-language practice finder lets you search for a gynaecologist or paediatrician by town or postcode.
The Mutterpass is the German maternity record. It is usually issued at the first prenatal check-up and records things like your estimated due date, test results and how the pregnancy is progressing. Keep it handy for appointments and take it with you to the maternity unit. Ask your practice which check-ups your doctor will do, what your midwife can do and where to go for scans.
The usual schedule is a check about every four weeks at first and every two weeks towards the end of pregnancy. Routine checks include blood pressure, weight and a urine sample. Other tests, such as screening for gestational diabetes, are scheduled for particular stages of pregnancy. Ask the practice to explain what’s due at your next appointment. Prenatal check-ups and the Mutterpass
Two practices from the original guide are still listed on their own websites: Gynäkologie & Hormone Bogenhausen and Frauenarztpraxis Giesing. They came from my own and other mums’ recommendations at the time. Ask the practice about new patients, languages and insurance before making plans.
How many routine ultrasound scans are offered in Germany?
Germany’s statutory maternity guidelines provide for three routine ultrasound scans, usually in pregnancy weeks 9–12, 19–22 and 29–32. A doctor carries out the scans. Ask your practice which appointments to book and whether a test they offer is covered or billed separately. Federal health information on ultrasound in pregnancy · German maternity care guidelines
Finding a midwife in Munich
Not sure about you, but having no prior experience caring for a baby, having a Hebamme was my priority, and I am super glad that I had taken the time to look for one. During the first ten days after the birth, I was keeping an eye on my baby’s weight. Having my midwife’s support and advice on breastfeeding and looking after myself made those early days easier.
Be prepared to make a few calls and send some emails. If you want home visits, put your postcode or neighbourhood and estimated due date in the first message. Ask whether the midwife covers your area, has space around your due date and offers Wochenbettbetreuung (care in the weeks after birth). If you need English or another language, ask at the same time. I’d start this search while you’re arranging your prenatal care.
Where to look for a Hebamme
- Hebammensuche Bayern has an English search. Enter your postcode and due date, then select the kind of care you need. It shows participating midwives with reported availability in your area. Bavarian midwife search
- Heba4You, run by HebaVaria, lets you post a request for postnatal care from the start of pregnancy if you live in Munich city or in the districts of Munich or Fürstenfeldbruck. Midwives can respond to your request. HebaVaria’s guide to Heba4You
- GKV-Spitzenverband lists freelance midwives approved to provide services to people with German statutory health insurance. Search by town or postcode and check availability with the midwife. Statutory insurers’ midwife directory
Statutory health insurance covers midwife support, including care after birth. If you have private insurance, check the terms of your policy. Ask what visits your midwife offers and how to get in touch in the first days at home. If you’re looking for a Geburtsvorbereitungskurs (birth preparation class), ask your midwife or maternity unit about dates and languages. Statutory insurance covers up to 14 hours of group classes for the pregnant person. Check with your insurer about a place for your partner. Federal guidance on care after birth · Federal guidance on birth preparation classes
What if you still haven’t found a midwife?
For families in Munich city, HebaVaria offers individual home visits in the first weeks after birth when you’re still looking for a midwife or yours is unavailable. Request a visit through Heba4You and wait for confirmation. Haus der Familie in Obersendling also offers a Hebammensprechstunde, an appointment to talk with a midwife during pregnancy or after birth, including if you’re still looking for one. HebaVaria home visit service · Haus der Familie midwife appointments
Choosing a hospital or birth centre in Munich
In my experience, calling instead of emailing was more efficient. My first questions would be when you’re allowed to register and who to ring when labour starts. I’d also think about the journey from home. Check which entrance leads to the Kreißsaal (delivery ward) and how you’ll get there, including at night. If you use public transport for appointments, our Munich transport guide is a useful starting point.
Booking times vary, and the appointments have different names. These three providers illustrate why it’s worth checking early:
| Where | What the provider asks you to arrange |
|---|---|
| Rotkreuzklinikum München, Frauenklinik on Taxisstraße | Registration for the birth opens from the 12th week of pregnancy. The clinic takes bookings online or by phone, subject to space. Rotkreuzklinikum registration |
| München Klinik Harlaching or Schwabing | The hospital group asks you to arrange a birth planning appointment from the 25th week. Contact your chosen clinic directly. München Klinik maternity information |
| Geburtshaus München | For your first birth at the centre, attend an information evening first. Phone registration opens after eight completed weeks of pregnancy. Geburtshaus München registration |
Ask which documents to bring and whether there’s an information evening or a chance to see the delivery rooms. Write down any questions about language support, pain relief or forms so you have them with you. For medical questions about where to give birth, talk through the options with your care team. City of Munich pregnancy and birth information
Finding a Kinderarzt in Munich before your baby arrives
I had quite a few rejections from paediatric practices because they were full. Some practices ask you to register ahead of time and others tell you to ring back after the baby is born. That’s why I suggested phoning a couple of months before the birth. It gives you time to try another practice if the first one has no room.
When you call a Kinderarztpraxis, ask whether it takes newborns and when you should book. If you expect to go home soon after giving birth, ask the maternity team who will do the U2 and any newborn screening still due. If the U2 needs to happen at a practice, ask specifically whether they can see your baby in time. The 116117 practice finder in English is a place to look if you’re still trying to find someone. Federal information for parents arranging a U2
The U1, U2 and U3 baby checks
Your baby’s early checks go in the yellow Kinderuntersuchungsheft, often called the Gelbes Heft. Think of it as the baby’s equivalent of the Mutterpass. Keep the booklet with your baby’s paperwork and take it to the check-ups.
| Check | Usual timing in Germany |
|---|---|
| U1 | Straight after birth. |
| U2 | From the 3rd to the 10th day of life. It often takes place at the maternity hospital. If you’re home, check the plan with your maternity team or paediatric practice. |
| U3 | In the 4th to 5th week of life. Ask your paediatric practice when to book it. |
After the birth: looking after yourself and registering your baby
It’s easy to focus on the baby’s appointments. Put your own postnatal appointment on the list as well. The German maternity guidelines schedule a follow-up around six weeks after birth, by eight weeks at the latest. Ask your practice when to come and take your Mutterpass. German maternity care guidelines
For a birth in a Munich hospital or birth centre, the facility sends the Geburtsanzeige (birth notification) to the Standesamt (registry office). You still need to provide the documents for your family and order the birth certificates. For a home birth in Munich, parents report the birth to the registry office within one week. If your documents are from outside Germany, check the city’s guidance on originals and translations. City of Munich birth certificates and documents, in English
Keep your maternity unit’s number handy. For urgent, non-life-threatening care outside practice hours, Germany’s medical on-call number is 116 117 and the phone service is in German. For a life-threatening emergency, call 112. 116117’s English explanation · Munich emergency numbers
German words and phrases I’d keep handy
I put this list together because ordinary German lessons only get you so far when someone starts talking about a Geburtsanmeldung or a Wochenbett. Keep it handy for phone calls and forms.
| German | What it means |
|---|---|
| Schwangerschaft, Schwangerschaftswoche (SSW), voraussichtlicher Entbindungstermin (ET) | Pregnancy, week of pregnancy, estimated due date |
| Frauenärztin / Frauenarzt, Termin, Vorsorgeuntersuchung | Gynaecologist, appointment, routine check-up |
| Mutterpass, Ultraschall, Krankenkasse | Maternity record, ultrasound, health insurance fund |
| Hebamme, Hausbesuch, Wochenbettbetreuung | Midwife, home visit, postnatal care |
| Krankenhaus, Geburtshaus, Kreißsaal | Hospital, birth centre, delivery ward |
| Geburtsanmeldung, Wehen, Geburtseinleitung | Registration with the birth facility, contractions, induction of labour |
| Geburtsvorbereitung, Entbindung | Birth preparation, delivery |
| Fruchtwasser, Nabelschnur | Amniotic fluid, umbilical cord |
| Wochenbett, stillen, Windel | The period after birth, to breastfeed, nappy |
| Kinderärztin / Kinderarzt, Kinderuntersuchungsheft | Paediatrician, child health check booklet |
| Standesamt, Geburtsanzeige, Geburtsurkunde | Registry office, birth notification, birth certificate |
- „Bieten Sie Termine auf Englisch an?“ Do you offer appointments in English?
- „Betreuen Sie Familien in meinem Stadtteil?“ Do you look after families in my neighbourhood?
- „Nehmen Sie Neugeborene auf?“ Are you taking on newborns?
I hope this makes the calls and paperwork a little less daunting. And if you get a quiet evening together before the birth, make time for a date night. I put a few ideas in our guide to things to do in Munich.