Giving/given birth in Germany

[CardiCorgi]

Has anyone here given birth in Germany or is anyone due to? I was just wondering about some of the TMI questions that I'm not sure about asking people in real life. For example, I've heard that enemas are standard here before the birth (yuck).
I'm also most disappointed that they don't do gas and air, that was the only bit that sounded ok.

Hi! Both my ds2 and ds3 were born in Germany! It is true that they dont have gas and air here, but I didnt miss it at all. Had it with ds1 (born in the UK) and didnt really like it anyway. I have to add that my labours tend to be very quick anyway, which might be why I managed without any sort of pain relief.

Enemas are not standard here before birth, at least not where I am.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

When are you due and whereabouts in Germany are you?

Hello,
I'm in Bavaria, planning to have the baby at one of the Munich university hospitals in November (although late October is fine by me if the bbaby feels like coming a week or so early).

Thanks, that's set my mind at rest a little, there are some things I just don't want to ask colleagues!
Another question, do they not have maternity pads here? I had a look last time I was in DM and couldn't see any. I suppose things like this will be covered in antenatal classes too.

I'm hoping that I take after my mother and will have a fast straightforward labour too, but I want to be prepared in case it's not all that easy.

I'm near Hamburg thus quite far away from where you are
Yes, maternity pads...when I was trying to get organised for ds2' birth (we had only moved to Germany 4 weeks prior to that) I remember being very confused as I couldnt find them anywhere. I actually got a friend to send some over for me! But in the end I neednt have worried. For hospital you wont need any anyway as it's all provided. And once you get home the normal pads are fine.

Did you know that practically everything is provided for you and the baby at hospital in Germany? From maternity pads, nappies, wet wipes, clothes for the newborn...

Where are you from originally? Will your children grow up bilingual? I am German but spent 13 years in the UK. Our 3 ds all grow up with English and German.

Thanks. I knew that they provided everything for the baby, but I didn't know that there would be anything there for me too. I'm glad to know that I wasn't being dopey when looking for maternity pads.

I'm from Wales but DH is German so we intend to bring our children up to be bilingual.

Hi, I'm in Germany too (Berlin), due at the end of October.

I'm planning to buy a pack of maternity pads for beforehand just in case I need them for waters breaking (and I know I'll be happier if I have a couple packed away in my hospital bag). They're in the nappy aisles of the drogeries, called Pelzy, but I think different shops do their own (cheaper) versions too.

Good luck!

Thanks. We have "hospital bag" on next week's antenatal class schedule, so maybe they will give us more information then.