Place of birth

After the first few weeks of pregnancy, many parents are faced with the question: Where should our child be born? You have a choice of various options. In addition to giving birth in hospital, where most babies are born, you can opt for a birthing center, a home birth or a midwife-led delivery room.

Which place of birth is right for you depends on your pregnancy, your personal wishes and your need for safety. Here you will find an overview of the different places of birth so that you can make a well-informed decision.

For many parents, it is reassuring to have a doctor in the background during the birth. This provides reassurance in the event that complications arise during the birth. The clinic is also usually the first choice for high-risk pregnancies or multiple births. Planned caesarean sections are only performed in a clinic.

Advantages of giving birth in hospital

• Doctors are available immediately if the mother or child does not feel well during the birth.
• Medical measures can be initiated without delay.
• Especially suitable in the event of increased risk or complications.

Disadvantages of giving birth in hospital

• The choice of midwife and doctor depends on the hospital schedule. It is therefore likely that you will not know the midwife.
• If several births take place at the same time, you may have to share a midwife with other women and not receive continuous care.

The tips for choosing the right maternity clinic will help you to make a good, well-considered decision.

A birth center is usually more relaxed and individual than a clinic. There are often one or two cozy rooms with a pleasant atmosphere for you. You will also usually have a bathroom to yourself. In a birthing center, great importance is placed on a self-determined birth and care is provided by midwives.

Advantages of giving birth in a birthing center

• Continuous 1:1 care by a midwife. This means that the supervising midwife is there for the woman and her companion throughout the entire time.
• Personal, relaxed environment.
• Mothers usually go home with their child a few hours after the birth.

Disadvantages of giving birth in a birth center

• There is usually no doctor present at the birth center.
• If complications arise, you will need to be taken to a nearby clinic. However, these procedures are so routine that you do not need to worry if your pregnancy is progressing normally.
• You should register early, preferably in the 1st trimester of pregnancy.

The tips on choosing a birthing center will help you make a good, well-considered decision.

The midwife-led delivery room is a good alternative if you want to be cared for by experienced midwives without giving up the security of a clinic. As the midwife-led delivery room is part of the maternity clinic, medical assistance can be called in at any time if necessary.

Advantages of giving birth in a midwife-led delivery room

• The concept enables 1:1 care. You will be cared for exclusively by experienced midwives during the birth.
• In the event of complications, a doctor is on hand and the mother does not have to be transferred.
• The prerequisite is a normal pregnancy and no foreseeable birth risk.

Disadvantages of giving birth in a midwife delivery room

• Midwife delivery rooms are currently only offered in selected, usually larger clinics.

The tips on choosing a midwife delivery room will help you make a good, well-considered decision.

If there is no foreseeable birth risk and you feel safe, you can also give birth to your child at home. The prerequisite is that you find an experienced midwife who will look after you during pregnancy and during the home birth.

Advantages of home birth

• An important aspect of every birth is peace and attention. The familiar and relaxed atmosphere at home offers the best conditions for this.
• You enjoy the benefit of having your personal midwife all to yourself and can concentrate fully on the birth.

Disadvantages of home birth

• A home birth requires good preparation in close contact with the midwife. Attention must also be paid to hygiene conditions.
• You should also bear in mind that the midwife only has limited options for avoiding pain during a home birth.
• In the event of complications, you will have to go to hospital. You should pack a hospital bag as a precaution for such cases.

The tips for deciding on a home birth will help you make a good, well-considered choice.

A decision about the right place of birth depends on many questions, such as:

• Will the pregnancy be risk-free?
• How important is medical safety during the birth to you?
• How important is personal 1:1 care to you?
• Do you feel most comfortable in a clinic, birth center or at home?

As a birth is a unique experience with very intimate and private moments, it is advisable to weigh up the decision carefully as a couple.

It is also important that you discuss your wishes with your gynaecologist and midwife at an early stage.

If you are considering an alternative to a maternity clinic, you should obtain information early on. Places outside the hospital often require early registration, as places are limited.

Your decision does not have to be final. Especially if you decide early on, for example to secure a place in a birthing center, there may be reasons that make a different choice necessary. This may be the case if the course of the pregnancy changes and a hospital birth is more advisable for medical reasons. The safety of mother and child is always the top priority. And even on the day of birth, the place of birth can still change if necessary.

For those with statutory health insurance, the following applies: The costs for medical care during the birth are covered by statutory health insurance - regardless of whether the birth takes place in a clinic, a birthing center or at home. The prerequisite for this is that the birth is attended by a licensed midwife or in a licensed facility.

However, depending on the choice of birth location, additional costs or co-payments may be incurred. For example, room use or care flat rates in the birthing center, additional services in the hospital or special hygiene materials for home births. Find out in good time about any costs that may be incurred at your chosen place of birth.

If you have private health insurance, you should clarify with your health insurance provider which services relating to the birth are covered by your insurance policy and which costs or additional services will be reimbursed or must be paid for by yourself.