From EmmaWelcome to
Written by Emma, Birth & Mother
July 18, 2026 · 4 min read
01
Why this site exists
When I was pregnant with Effie, my first pregnancy in Germany, I spent hours searching for clear, honest information in English. I wanted to understand the system I was giving birth in. I wanted to know my rights. I wanted someone to explain the things that nobody thinks to explain because they assume everyone already knows.
Birth & Mother exists because pregnancy and birth in Germany as an international family should not feel like guesswork. The German maternity system is very good, but it was not designed with English-speaking families in mind. The language barrier alone can turn routine appointments into stressful experiences. Add to that unfamiliar processes, cultural expectations you did not grow up with, and the emotional weight of becoming a parent far from home, and it is easy to feel lost.
This site is here to change that. Everything you find here is written in clear English, grounded in evidence, and shaped by the experience of actually living through it.
02
What you will find here
This is a resource hub for international families in Germany. The articles on this site cover the topics that come up again and again in this work:
- –How the German maternity system works, from your Mutterpass to your health insurance (Krankenkasse)
- –The different types of midwife care and what to expect from each
- –Your rights in the birth space and how to use them
- –Where to give birth across Germany, and how each setting works
- –The postpartum (Wochenbett) tradition and what postpartum care actually looks like here
- –The practical realities of parental leave (Elternzeit), child benefit (Kindergeld), and the paperwork that follows a new baby
- –What it means to build a village when your family is far away
Every piece is written from real experience, not theory. I have given birth in Germany twice. I have been through the system as an international mum. I have sat in waiting rooms not understanding what was being said and walked out of appointments unsure of what had just been decided. I know what it feels like, and I know what would have helped.
03
More than a website
Birth & Mother is also where I offer personal support as a certified doula. I work with families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, providing the continuous, one-to-one care that the system does not always have space for. If you want to know more about what a doula does and why it matters, I have written a dedicated article about doula support.
Once your baby is here, that care carries on in the Wochenbett Sessions 1:1: an hour with me by video, as often as you need one, through the weeks when everything is new.
04
A personal note
My name is Emma. I am Welsh, I live in Potsdam, and I am raising my three daughters, Ella, Effie and Elise, here. I created this site because no one should have to go through such a big experience without honest information and genuine support.
Whether you have just arrived in Germany, you have been here for years, or you are still deciding whether to make the move, you are welcome here. This is the resource I wish I had. I hope it helps you feel a little less alone and a lot more prepared.
If you have questions, or if something here rings true for you, I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch or come and say hello.
Welcome to Birth & Mother.
– With love, Emma
Emma
Certified Birth Doula & Founder of Birth & Mother
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What to Do, and When
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