With exceptional, affordable healthcare available in Berlin, there’s no reason to return home to give birth. The city has a number of up-to-date maternity hospitals as well as a network of birthhouses (see above) that can assist with natural childbirth – either at your place or theirs. The midwife is the centre of all births in Berlin and does most of the work during delivery, even in hospitals. Midwives also provide post-natal care and advice.

Hospitals have regular information sessions for expecting couples – call the maternity ward of the hospitals you’re considering to find out when and where. Showing up any other time is useless and will just annoy the staff. Birthhouses also have regular sessions to introduce their staff and facilities – again, give them a call to find out when.

Hospitals are the most common location for giving birth, and women can elect to have medication for pain in a variety of forms, including an epidural. Some hospitals offer alternative birthing forms, such as water births or acupuncture – ask when visiting. Elective caesarean sections are not the norm, but some doctors will perform non-emergent c-sections if women so desire. Following a birth, couples can often go straight home with their new bundle of joy or they can stay several days – it’s up to the mother, midwives and doctors.

Berlin also has several birthhouses for performing natural births. Although midwives are trained healthcare professionals, they cannot provide any medicinal pain relief and refer difficult cases to hospitals. Despite their alternative reputation, German midwives are pragmatic professionals, more concerned about tending to a mother’s comfort and health, as well as the health of the baby, than any dogmatic alternative approaches. If you wish to have a home birth, a birthhouse is a good starting point to find an appropriate midwife, as well as the support you may need.