Place of Birth

After the first few weeks of pregnancy, many parents ask themselves: Where should our child be born? You have a choice between several options. In addition to giving birth in a hospital—where most babies are born—you can choose a birthing center, a home birth, or a midwife-led birthing center.  

Which birth setting is right for you depends on your pregnancy, your personal preferences, and your need for security. Here you’ll find an overview of the different birth settings so you can make a well-informed decision.

For many parents, it is reassuring to know that a doctor is on hand during childbirth. This provides peace of mind in case complications arise during labor. A hospital is also usually the first choice for high-risk pregnancies or multiple births. Scheduled C-sections are performed only at a hospital.

Advantages of Giving Birth in a Hospital

• Doctors are immediately available should the mother or baby experience any problems during labor.
• Medical interventions can be initiated without delay.
• Particularly suitable in cases of increased risk or complications.

Disadvantages of giving birth in a hospital

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

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

A birthing center generally offers a more relaxed and personalized experience than a hospital. There are often one or two cozy rooms with a pleasant atmosphere available for you. You’ll usually have a bathroom all to yourself as well. Birthing centers place great emphasis on a self-directed birth experience, and care is provided by midwives.

Advantages of Giving Birth at a Birthing Center

• Continuous one-on-one care from a midwife. This means that the attending midwife is fully dedicated to the woman and her support person throughout the entire process.
• A personal, relaxed environment.
• Mothers usually go home with their baby just a few hours after giving birth.  

Disadvantages of giving birth at a birthing center

• There is generally no doctor present at the birthing center.
• If complications arise, you will need to be transported to a nearby hospital. However, these procedures are so well-established that you don’t need to worry if your pregnancy is progressing normally.
• You should register early, preferably as early as the first trimester of your pregnancy. 

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

The midwife-led delivery room is a good alternative if you’d like to be cared for by experienced midwives without sacrificing the safety of a hospital. Since the midwife-led delivery room is part of the maternity hospital, medical assistance can be called in at any time if needed.  

Advantages of Giving Birth in a Midwife-Led Delivery Room

• This approach allows for one-on-one care. During labor, you will be cared for exclusively by experienced midwives. 
• In the event of complications, a doctor is on hand, and the mother does not need to be transferred.
• This option is available only if the pregnancy is progressing normally and there are no foreseeable risks during childbirth.  

Disadvantages of giving birth in a midwife-led delivery room

• Midwife-led delivery rooms are currently only available in select, mostly larger hospitals.

The Tips for Choosing a Midwife-Led Delivery Room will help you make a well-informed and balanced decision.

If there are no foreseeable risks associated with the birth and you feel confident, you can also give birth to your child at home. The prerequisite is that you find an experienced midwife who will care for you during your pregnancy and during the home birth.  

Advantages of a Home Birth

• Peace and attention are important aspects of any birth. 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 focus entirely on the birth. 

Disadvantages of a home birth

• A home birth requires thorough preparation in close consultation with your midwife. You must also pay attention to hygiene standards. 
• You should also keep in mind that during a home birth, the midwife has limited options for pain relief.
• In the event of complications, you’ll need to go to the hospital. As a precaution, you should pack a hospital bag for such cases.  

The Tips for Deciding on a Home Birth will help you make a well-informed and balanced choice.

Deciding on the right place to give birth depends on many factors, such as:

• Is the pregnancy proceeding without any risks?
• How important is medical safety during childbirth to you?
• How important is one-on-one care to you?
• Do you feel most comfortable in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home?

Since childbirth is a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with very intimate and private moments, it’s advisable to carefully weigh your options together as a couple.  

It’s also important to discuss your wishes early on with your OB-GYN and your midwife.

If you’re considering an alternative to a maternity hospital, you should start researching your options early. Locations outside the hospital often require early registration, as spaces are limited.

Your decision doesn’t have to be final. Especially if you make a decision early on—for example, to secure a spot at 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 recommended for medical reasons. The safety of the mother and child is always the top priority. And even on the day of delivery, the birth location can still change if necessary.

For those with public health insurance: The costs of medical care during childbirth are covered by public health insurance plans—regardless of whether the birth takes place in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home. The prerequisite for this is that the birth is attended by a licensed midwife or takes place at a licensed facility.

However, depending on your choice of birth location, additional costs or copayments may apply. For example, room-use or care fees at a birthing center, additional services at a hospital, or special hygiene supplies for a home birth. Be sure to inquire early with your chosen birth location about any potential costs.  

If you have private health insurance, you should check with your insurance provider to determine which childbirth-related services are covered under your policy and which costs or additional services will be reimbursed or must be paid out of pocket.