Being pregnant for the first time comes with a number of questions, worries and confusion. Getting pregnant in a foreign country can add a whole different element and so I will try and help clear up some of that confusion here.
I figured I would begin with the Mutterpass. A Mutterpass is a very important, A5 sized booklet that acts as a record of your pregnancy. Information taken from medical examinations throughout the pregnancy will be noted as well as important details from the birth of your baby. Your Mutterpass will be requested throughout your pregnancy for visits to the
I figured I would begin with the Mutterpass. A Mutterpass is a very important, A5 sized booklet that acts as a record of your pregnancy. Information taken from medical examinations throughout the pregnancy will be noted as well as important details from the birth of your baby. Your Mutterpass will be requested throughout your pregnancy for visits to the
- gynaecologist
- midwife
- hospital / Geburtshaus (most importantly at the labour)
It is recommended that you carry your Mutterpass with you whenever you leave the house in case of emergency as any doctor will be able to access important health-related information about you, your pregnancy and your baby at a glance. You must also always have it with you for your appointments as listed above and at the birth of your baby. You will also have a check up with your gynaecologist (Frauenarzt) 6-8 weeks post-labour and you should bring it with you then as well.
You will receive the Mutterpass from your gynaecologist at one of your early pregnancy check ups. I received mine at my second checkup, sometimes you will receive yours at your first checkup to confirm the pregnancy.
Below is an English language breakdown of the pages in the Mutterpass and what information they contain (once filled in by the appropriate doctor/midwife). Please note that this is a general overview of the Mutterpass and you won't necessarily receive all the tests mentioned. Some tests are done by every gynaecologist, others you choose whether you wish to have or not. I hope you find this useful in understanding a bit more about what the Mutterpass is and its purpose...
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You will receive the Mutterpass from your gynaecologist at one of your early pregnancy check ups. I received mine at my second checkup, sometimes you will receive yours at your first checkup to confirm the pregnancy.
Below is an English language breakdown of the pages in the Mutterpass and what information they contain (once filled in by the appropriate doctor/midwife). Please note that this is a general overview of the Mutterpass and you won't necessarily receive all the tests mentioned. Some tests are done by every gynaecologist, others you choose whether you wish to have or not. I hope you find this useful in understanding a bit more about what the Mutterpass is and its purpose...
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- Stamps from your gynaecologist and midwife with address and contact telephone numbers and possibly the hospital too although mine was never stamped with the hospital details
- List of your doctor's appointments throughout the pregnancy with dates and times
- Your name, D.O.B, address and previous name(s) (if you've changed your name through marriage for example)
- Details of your blood group
- Results of your antibody screening test
- Results of your Rubella HI test
- Results of your serological blood tests
- Detection of Chlamydia
- LSR
- Antibody Screening Test Control
- Antibody Screening Test Control
- Rubella HI test control
- Detection of HBs antigen of the serum
- Details of previous pregnancies and a shorthand explanation of the birth(s) as well as basic information about the baby(s) born ie. length, weight, sex etc.
- Medical history and general findings / first preventive examinations
- Tick list of information about health during pregnancy that the doctor should discuss with you
- List of special findings in the course of pregnancy that need to be noted such as anaemia, problems with the placenta, gestational diabetes etc.
- Regularity and length of menstrual cycle
- Date of last period
- Date of when the pregnancy was confirmed and how many weeks pregnant you were upon confirmation (by the medical professional)
- Predicted due date
- Corrected predicted due date (if needed)
- Date of the beginning of Mutterschutz (my doctor listed this in the commentary section on this page, I'm not sure if all do that)
- Gravidogramm: this details the following
- date of checkup
- pregnancy week
- corrected pregnancy week (where necessary)
- fundul height
- position of baby
- heart tone
- baby's movement
- oedeme
- varicose veins
- weight
- blood pressure
- protein levels
- sugar levels
- nitrite levels
- blood levels
- vaginal checkup
- noted risks
- other notes
- more info relating to the findings on previous pages (catalogs A, p.5 and B, p.6)
- inpatient treatment during pregnancy- Cardiographic findings
- Ultrasound examinations
- 1st Screening 9th-12th pregnancy week
- 2nd Screening 19th-22nd pregnancy week
- 3rd Screening 29th-32nd pregnancy week
- Extra ultrasound checkups such as a 'Anatomy Ultrasound' (Feindiagnostik)
- Standard curves for the fetal growth pattern
- Further ultrasound examinations (when necessary)
- Sonor Graphics Doppler studies (when necessary)
- roundup of details about you, the pregnancy, the birth, the baby & post-partum information:
Pregnancy
- your year of birth
- family status
- nationality
- number of pregnancies
- number of births
- first checkup
- number of checkups
- were you in the clinic prior to the labour
- documented risk numbers (from catalogues A&B pg. 5 & 6)
Birth
- baby's D.O.B
- pregnancy week that the baby arrived in
- live birth?
- sex of baby
- type of labour (spontaneous, induced etc)
- position of baby
- baby's weight
- baby's length
- Agpar score
- pH levels
- abnormality of development
- extra information
- Final examination / Epicrisis (assessment)
- Unusual findings during childbed - 8 week period post-partum (Wochenbett)
- PET findings
- Details of if you are breastfeeding or not
- Whether or not the U3 screening has been done for the baby
- If the baby passed away, date of death
Further pages are for later pregnancies