Giving birth (accidentally) in an EU country.

[mimmymouse]

I'm due to travel to Germany for a few days when I will be 37/38 weeks pregnant with DC3. Last work commitment before mat leave.

My travel insurers will not cover anything as after 37 weeks they say I should expect a birth - and fair enough. They suggested I carry an EHIC - which I have. Both previous pregnancies have gone to 42 weeks. (41+4 and 42+1. Both entirely normal deliveries, without so much as a stitch.)

Being slightly nervous I rang EHIC and now I am more confused than ever! Although the lady was very nice and said "just carry your EHIC" she then went on to say that I would probably need to make up front payments which would later be "claimed back" and this could be thousands and thousands of Euros. Also some hospitals might reject my EHIC card. (Perhaps she said "not recognise"?) I assume the fees in question would be because they would be the charges levelled to a German citizen? My understanding is that the EHIC gives you access to the same treatment available in public hospitals as to the citizens of the EU country you are in.

I'd love to hear from anyone who had an accidental EU birth and your experience of using EHIC. Anyone with knowledge of fees German citizens might have to pay - I'd love to hear from you too!

TIA.

Not wanting to add to the doomand gloom but if you are going overland you will need to consider France/Belgium/Netherlands too

We live in Germany. My mum fell ill while visiting once and used her EHIC to go to hospital, where she was kept in overnight. There was absolutely no problem with them accepting it and there shouldn't be any issue with being charged in advance. You get the same level of care as you would with health insurance, except that there's no transport back home.

There are two different levels of care - state insurance and private insurance. State insurance is what you'd be covered for, and it's absolutely fine medically speaking. Private insurance would just give you slightly better conditions, like in the UK - a private room etc. But maternity care in Germany is absolutely top rate, ime (two babies here) - I've never heard the kind of horror mismanagement stories that I read about all too often in the UK. It's true that gas and air doesn't exist though! You might be encouraged to go as far as you can before using pain relief, but an epi is absolutely possible.

The rule is that it needs to be an emergency and not the purpose of your visit, so I would make sure you have documentation with you that you are actually in Germany for a work trip.

It used to be the case that you had to pay 10 euros per night spent in hospital, and 10 euros per doctor's visit (that was for everyone, not just EU visitors) - I know that no longer applies to doctors, but not sure about hospitals. But 10 euros a day is pretty good for the level of care you'll get there.

Most German doctors will speak good English, but older doctors in what used to be East Germany might struggle still. There will be raised eyebrows at the idea that you had to travel so late in your pregnancy for work, though. Not sure it's even legal to work that late in Germany, most women stop at 34 weeks.

I so hope you won't need this info! Best of luck with it.

France/Belgium/Netherlands too that's a good point!

to be honest OP - I get that you are self-employed but any employer forcing an employee to do this trip when that pregnant would be being unreasonable. Therefore you are being unreasonable to yourself.

Whatever dreadful consequences could come from you missing this meeting, they are not more important than the health of your baby.

Cancel the trip.

I would not make this trip. You could be stuck there for weeks waiting to get a passport to bring the baby home.

Hiya, In these circumstances, I really would try to get out of the trip however possible.
I lived in Germany for five years and gave birth there. As people say, the quality of care is good, the hospitals are clean etc. BUT.... The grey areas surrounding ehic/ hidden clauses about pregnancy/insurance and so on are a MINEFIELD. The ehic has been massively exploited. It is not unknown for hospitals to take an imprint of a credit card before treatment, (in a &e even) and hold the amount whilst they figure out if you can claim. And often, they'll find a reason your claim is invalid.
This happened to me in a different context- whilst still covered by ehic my child broke a bone. I was pursued for payment (4000euros) for months. I eventually had to instruct a lawyer (luckily provided by the German version of consumer protection) before the costs became astronomical. It took another six months before they 'let me off'.
The process in Germany can be highly interventionist- for example, the final bill for c sections can run into tens of thousands of euros.
Chances are, you'll have a wonderful birth. But if not, would you really be able to cope with the stress of being in a different country?

yakari I flew at 36 weeks back from Romania to the UK and have never had such an attentive flight crew! I was flying with my two other DCs who were 5 and 3 so I did reassure them that I knew what I was doing but they worked very hard to get me off the plane asap when we landed!