The German you will hear, in plain English, for every appointment and the birth itself.
Why it's here
So you always knowthe word you need
At an appointment or in the birth room, the German comes fast, and the words are rarely the ones you learned in a language class. This glossary gathers the terms you are most likely to hear through pregnancy, birth, and the weeks after, each explained in plain English.
Search by the German word or the English meaning, or narrow to one part of the journey. When you would rather carry it with you, the same glossary folds into the pocket booklets for your Mutterpass.
46 words
Pregnancy & your care
- Hebamme
- Midwife. Attends every birth by law, and can do all of your prenatal care except scans.
- Frauenarzt / Frauenärztin
- Gynaecologist. Confirms the pregnancy and performs the ultrasounds.
- Mutterpass
- Your maternity record booklet. Carry it everywhere.
- Vorsorgeuntersuchung
- Routine prenatal check-up.
- Ultraschall
- Ultrasound scan.
- Geburtsvorbereitungskurs
- Antenatal / birth preparation course.
- Beleghebamme
- A midwife you book privately to attend your hospital birth.
- Geburtstermin (ET)
- Due date (errechneter Termin).
The birth itself
- Wehen
- Contractions.
- Blasensprung
- Your waters breaking.
- Fruchtwasser
- Amniotic fluid.
- Muttermund
- Cervix (and how far it has opened).
- Kreißsaal
- Labour and delivery ward.
- Geburtshaus
- Birth house, a home-like midwife-led setting.
- Hausgeburt
- Home birth.
- Geburtsplan
- Birth plan.
- CTG
- The monitor that traces baby's heartbeat and your contractions.
- Einleitung
- Induction of labour.
- Wehentropf
- A drip to start or strengthen contractions.
- PDA
- Epidural (Periduralanästhesie).
- Presswehen
- The pushing contractions of second stage.
- Dammschnitt
- Episiotomy, a small cut to the perineum.
- Dammriss
- A perineal tear.
- Saugglocke
- Ventouse / vacuum-assisted birth.
- Kaiserschnitt
- Caesarean section.
- Steißlage / Beckenendlage
- Breech position.
- Plazenta / Mutterkuchen
- Placenta, delivered after the baby.
- Nabelschnur
- Umbilical cord.
The weeks after (Wochenbett)
- Wochenbett
- The postpartum recovery period.
- Nachsorge
- Postpartum midwife care at home.
- Nachuntersuchung
- Six-week postnatal check-up.
- Rückbildungskurs
- Postnatal recovery course.
- Stillen
- Breastfeeding.
- Stillberatung
- Breastfeeding consultation.
- Kolostrum / Vormilch
- Colostrum, the rich first milk.
- Haushaltshilfe
- Home help, sometimes covered by insurance.
- Wochenbettbetreuerin
- Postpartum doula or caregiver.
- Kinderarzt / Kinderärztin
- Paediatrician.
Paperwork & benefits
- Mutterschutz
- Legal maternity protection period around the birth.
- Elternzeit
- Parental leave (up to three years).
- Elterngeld
- Parental benefit (paid leave).
- Kindergeld
- Monthly child benefit.
- Standesamt
- Registry office, where you register the birth.
- Geburtsurkunde
- Birth certificate.
- U-Untersuchung
- Routine paediatric check-up (U1 to U9).
- GKV / PKV
- Statutory / private health insurance.
Take it with you
The same words,folded for your Mutterpass
The three pocket booklets carry this glossary stage by stage, alongside the bilingual phrases that keep your voice in the room. Print one A4 sheet on one side, fold it twice, and tuck it into your Mutterpass.
See the printable booklets