If you’ve decided that you want to give birth at the hospital, here’s a guide on how to decide which one to go to.
Which hospital to choose?
When looking at what hospital to go to, there’s a few criteria to keep in mind:
Distance from your home / travel time
Availability of a neonatal intensive care unit if this may be required or would make you feel safe
Approach to childbirth/ baby friendly certified hospital
Availability of special features such as a tub for a water birth
Availability of family rooms
Nursing and general baby care support
Impression when visiting
Reputation and recent reviews from other parents
Think about such things as how long you will be willing to travel once labor has started and whether you want to go to a “traditional” hospital or one with an “alternative” approach.
It may also be helpful to look at such things as c-section rates. For this Mother Hood e.V. put together this handy map of hospitals across Germany and their c-section rates (based on 2022 data). Keep in mind that specialized hospitals that welcome many high risk pregnancies tend to have higher c-section rates by default.
Note also that some hospitals do not offer delivery for premature babies. (In case of premature contractions before week 34, please call an ambulance or go to a big hospital near you!)
Visiting a Hospital
Many hospitals will offer regular information sessions for soon-to-be parents – check the hospital website for upcoming dates.
These information sessions are a chance to learn more about the hospital’s approach, speciality areas and the logistics when labor has started. It’s also a chance to have your questions answered.
It’s a good idea to attend the information session early on so you can learn about next steps, such as pre-registering for your birth.
Why pre-register?
Pre-registering is not mandatory for most hospitals but has a few advantages:
The hospital will have your details on file when you arrive so you won’t have to fill out any forms during labor
You will have a chance to ask questions and meet one of their midwives
You might be able to visit the delivery room
You can tell them any individual wishes such as a water birth or that you’d like a family room (if available)
There can be a big range of when the hospital would like you to register, so best to inform yourself early on and make a note in your calendar!
Most hospitals will want you to bring your health insurance card, your pregnancy booklet (“Mutterpass”) and any other relevant medical documents. Some also require a referral slip from your OBGYN – check with them to confirm.
Further Information
We have put together lists of hospitals and important information for various big cities in Germany:
Frankfurt Hospitals [coming soon]
Hamburg Hospitals [coming soon]
Munich Hospitals [coming soon]
