Welcome to Slow German! I made a long pause, and there is a reason. Because I have got a young son. Therefore, once the subject today: Kids get in Germany.

After the pregnancy test, a woman has a lot to do: You should go check every month to her gynecologist and leave if the baby is fine. Baby is actually an English word, we use it, but also in Germany. The correct term for a newborn infant is actually. Later, the child is then a toddler.

During regular examinations, the weight of the pregnant woman is measured. Often, their blood is taken to control different values. You must also give a urine sample. All this is not particularly pleasant, but the reward is then an ultrasound examination. In this study, physician and patient can see as it were, into the belly and watch the unborn child. May find this one quite early even the sex of the child - if you wish. In late pregnancy it is connected to a CTG, which is an EFM. These are two straps around the belly of the pregnant woman - connected to a monitor. There one sees how the heart beats of the baby - and whether the woman has been labor.

In addition to medical examinations, many women take the help of a midwife to complete. It takes a lot of time answering questions and helping the pregnant women at this time. In order to know what happens at birth and all the options available, many childbirth classes are offered. They are not mandatory, but a voluntary offering. You learn, for example, different breathing techniques. Many courses are supported by health insurance, which means you do not have to pay the full amount.

From six weeks before the start of the birth maternity leave. During this time, the woman can work, it does not anymore. In the eight weeks after birth, they may not work if it keeps to this maternity leave. So they still get money, you pay the insurance on about three quarters of their salary. So they can concentrate fully on her newborn child while you get fit again.

But before coming to birth. It announces itself with labor. That's a lot of pain that occur regularly and are always stronger. The mother chooses before birth where she wants to get her child. There are the so-called home birth, because the woman stays at home and is supported by a midwife. Then there are birthing centers, also helps a midwife, but most women get their child in a hospital. In the so-called maternity hospital. For to get a child to give birth too.

The hospital also has the support of pregnant women by a midwife. If the woman wants, she gets a PDA, which is an injection that you take the pain. There are many clinics in the possibility of a water birth. This is the woman then in a large tub, warm water should be relaxing. A normal birth is known in Germany spontaneous delivery. Although they often take many hours.

If there are complications, the child can be brought to the world with either a ventouse or forceps. Or with a Caesarean section. The Caesarean section is used more often - while the child is brought by an operation from the belly of the woman.

When a child is born too early by the way, it is called a premature baby. Fortunately, medicine has become so wide that many children born prematurely have still a great chance of survival.

Immediately after birth the child may already at the breast of the mother - if they want to. You can breast-feed.

If the woman has decided on an outpatient birth, they may after a few hours after birth at home. If not, they will remain several days in the hospital. The children are examined in detail after the birth, and the father is allowed to cut the umbilical cord.

In the first weeks at home, you take the opportunity to follow-up care, midwife to complete. The midwife helps the young family and it also shows how to wrap the baby a bath. The offer is covered by insurance.

The first six weeks after childbirth is called postpartum. Even then, many studies are available for the baby to the pediatrician - the U-tests. They are numbered. U1 is immediately after birth, a few days after U2, U3, U4, and so on. The young child to the pediatrician is also vaccinated, so it does not get any nasty diseases. Vaccination is compulsory but not decide in Germany, parents can verify whether their child should be vaccinated or not.

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Welcome to Slow German! I made ​​a long pause, and there is a reason. Because I have got a young son. Therefore, once the subject today: having children ...