All important data regarding previous pregnancies will be entered on the fourth page of your maternity record (Mutterpass). This is where your gynaecologist or midwife notes, for example, how your previous births went and records the weight and sex of your babies at birth. There is also a checklist of counselling topics on this page of your maternity record. These help your doctor or midwife structure consultations and give you comprehensive information.
Birth entries
When discussing previous pregnancies, you will also be asked about complications. This information is important for your current pregnancy. Your pregnancy may be classified as a high-risk pregnancy based on this information. This means that your doctor or midwife will be keeping an extra close eye on your pregnancy. As examples of the sorts of complications that will need to be clarified, there are various technical terms in the table provided. For example, in Germany AbortioSpontaneous abortion Abortio Spontaneous abortion is the medical term for miscarriage. Miscarriage, or pregnancy loss, is also recorded in the maternity record in addition to stillbirths and the year of previous pregnancies. is the medical term for a miscarriage. AbruptioInduced abortion Abruptio Induced abortion ends a pregnancy with medication or a medical procedure. The year of previous pregnancies and, if applicable, the method used to terminate the pregnancies are recorded in the maternity record. is the technical term for an abortion in Germany. ‘EU’ is the common German abbreviation for an extra uterine pregnancyExtrauterine pregnancy Extra-Uterin-Schwangerschaft An extrauterine pregnancy is when the fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus. An extrauterine pregnancy usually can not be carried to term. This often leads to a natural termination of pregnancy. If this does not happen, serious complications can occur.. This is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, i.e. an abdominal pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy. In both cases, the embryo cannot be carried to term. Uncomplicated birth histories are also included in the maternity record notes. For example, a spontaneous birthSpontaneous birth Spontangeburt A spontaneous birth is a birth that was not induced by medication and was carried out without obstetric interventions such as a caesarean section, vacuum extractor or forceps. is a vaginal birth without special medical intervention. A vaginal operation is a surgical intervention during childbirth, for example a delivery with the aid of suction or forceps. In German, the word SectioCaesarean section Sectio Caesarean section, also called a C-section, is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby. During a caesarean section, the abdominal wall and the uterus are opened through an incision and the baby is delivered through this opening. There are different reasons for performing a caesarean section and a distinction is made between a planned and emergency C-section. A planned Caesarean section is performed at the request of the parents or based on a physician's assessment prior to the actual start of labor. An emergency C-section is performed when the birth has already begun and complications arise during delivery. is used to describe a c-section.
Advice and tips
At your first check-up, you will receive advise on various topics concerning your health and that of your baby. You'll find these topics as a checklist on the bottom half of page four in your maternity record (Mutterpass). Your doctor or midwife will using this list as talking points for their discussion with you. They will ask you questions about your diet, medications you take, and whether you drink alcohol or smoke. Medical advice on birth preparation and pregnancy counselling is also documented, as is medical advice on HIV antibody testing, oral health and early cancer detection.
HIV test
You can get tested for HIV voluntarily during pregnancy. In this case, it will be noted that a test has been done on page four of your maternity record (Mutterpass). The result of the test is not recorded, however, so this sensitive information is known only to you. The cost of the test is covered by your health insurance.