In Germany, it is quite common to attend a birth preparation or antenatal class before your baby is born. In German, this course is called a “Geburtsvorbereitungskurs” and generally takes place in the third trimester of pregnancy. It can be paid for by health insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect from a birth preparation course in this article.
Most of the antenatal classes on offer are held in German, but we also found a few in-person antenatal classes in Cologne that are held in English, which you can find below.
This article was fact checked by doula Sofia Rischio, who accompanies international families in Cologne during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Her English-language birth preparation classes is listed below. She also offers breastfeeding consultations.
Geburtshaus Köln
The Geburtshaus Köln offers an in-person weekend class in English that takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
The course offers information about birth, postpartum and life with the baby. Breathing and relaxation exercises, correct posture and supportive massages are the practical parts of the course. The role of partners during birth and in the time after are also a topic.
The course is covered by health insurance for the pregnant person, the partner fee is €125 (as of July 2024).
Book as soon as possible online or by email using [email protected]. You can attend on your own or with your partner.
Mothering the mother (Doula Laura)
Laura is a British Doula who offers private as well as group birth preparation courses in Cologne.
You will learn about what you can expect in a German hospital. Laura will also provide you and your birth partner with practical tips and tricks to support yourselves during your journey. You learn how your body and your baby work together and how you can best support them. In addition, pain relief options will be discussed (medical and non-medical).
As a hypnobirthing instructor, Laura’s courses cover the hormones we need for birth and how best to keep the good ones around, breathing techniques, affirmations. Finally, you will receive access to meditation MP3s to listen to in preparation for and during birth.
The course is not covered by health insurance and the price is €220 per couple for the group course or €400 for a private course of 6 hours (as of July 2024).
Doula Sofia
Doula Sofia is a birth and postpartum Doula, as well as a breastfeeding counselor, who offers birth preparation courses in English.
During the course you learn together with other couples how to best prepare yourself for an empowered birth.
You get information on several topics like: What happens during birth? How do things work here in Germany? What choices do I have during birth? How can I make informed decisions during birth? What are the different birth positions? How can my birth partner best support me? Additionally, you will learn how to best prepare for breastfeeding and motherhood.
The course is not covered by health insurance and the fee is €200 per couple.
An individual course at your home ist also possible. The fee starts at €200, depending on the desired course length.
You can contact Sofia online to book a course.
Conscious birth
Claire Biros is a French Midwife and offers English and French birth preparation courses. She also works as a Doula.
The course includes 5 weekly in-person meetings of 2 hours with main focus on discussion, Q&A, practices, 5+ hours of videos explaining all the theory, pain-coping exercises, 5 Audio recordings of pain-coping practices and 1 visit in the first month after your baby’s birth with a homemade meal.
The course is not covered by health insurance and the fee will be €320 per couple.
You can contact Claire online and book the course.
Heilpraktikerin für Frauen- und Familiengesundheit
The holistic practitioner Mura Frey-Balke offers an English-language hypnobirthing course.
You will learn all about hypnobirthing and how it can make labor easier.
Interested parents can write an email to [email protected] or call to learn more: +49(0)178 - 2024048.
The course is not covered by most health insurances. The price per couple will be €98 per evening (5 in total) and it is also possible to attend an online course.
Doula Macy Sto. Domingo-Heib
Macy is a Doula who offers prenatal and postpartum care. Furthermore she can support you during labor and birth. Therefore she designed several packages that can be individually modified.
You can book a package of 4 prenatal sessions of 1:1 in-home support (2 hours each), which includes the following aspects: planning and preparing for birth, birth education and prenatal education tailored to your needs and preparing your home for the arrival of baby.
You also receive ongoing support throughout your pregnancy via telephone, email and SMS.
The fee is €300 and is unfortunately not covered by health insurance. But Macy offers payment plans.
Her in-person or virtual support is offered in English and Tagalog.
She also offers birth and postpartum packages. The birth package for example also includes translations in the hospital.
https://www.atehdoula.com/
Neue Kölner - Die Elternschule am Severinskloster
At the moment Neue Kölner - Die Elternschule am Severinskloster offers several courses in German for parents including birth preparation. As of July 2024, they are working on offering an English birth preparation course soon. We will update the article accordingly.
Their course offers discussions and information on the topics of pregnancy, birth and the early days with your child. So existing fears can be reduced. In German, they have different courses: for women-only, for couples, weekend courses and compact courses.
The course is covered by health insurance for the pregnant person, the partner fee is €125 (as of July 2024).
Book as soon as possible online after choosing the course you prefer.
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For online options, you can check out our list of online birth preparation courses held in English (and tailored to the German system).
German-Language “Geburtsvorbereitungskurse” in Cologne
If a German language class is also ok for you, here are some options on how to find one.
If you have already found a midwife [link to how to find a midwife in Cologne article] you can ask her first. Many midwives offer different courses on all aspects of childbirth.
Many clinics also offer birth preparation courses. It is best to contact the clinic you wish to come to for the birth. Then you can also combine the course with a tour of the delivery room.
Midwife Ilona Klein
Ilona Klein is a German midwife who can support you before and after birth. She offers several courses like birth preparation and breastfeeding support in German.
The costs vary depending on the service you use and can be covered by health insurance. Ilona does not only speak English but als Greek.
Some clinics that offer courses are:
The Evangelisches Klinikum Köln Weyerthal offers birth preparation courses.
The Cellitiinnen-Krankenhaus Heilig Geist offers birth preparation courses.
The St. Elisabeth-Krankenhaus GmbH offers birth preparation courses in Hohenlind.
Some other providers that offer courses are:
The midwives of Hebammenkurse Koeln offer birth preparation courses.
