At your first check-up, your doctor or midwife will take a general medical history and make note of any general findings. This means you will be examined and asked some questions about your health, medical history and life. This information is entered on page 5 of your maternity record (Mutterpass). Results of previous tests or screenings are also included.
Important information about you
The page starts with general information about you. This includes your weight before the start of pregnancy, age and height. The number of your previous pregnancies is noted next to the technical term GravidaGravida Gravida is the medical term for pregnancy. Accordingly, the number of pregnancies a person has had is entered in the gravida field in the maternity record (Mutterpass). This includes pregnancies that ended in miscarriage and other pregnancies that were not carried to term for various reasons.. Pregnancies that ended prematurely are also counted here, for example if you suffered a miscarriage. The number of live births you have experienced is entered next to the word ParaPara Para is short for parity. In medicine, parity is the number of births. Accordingly, ‘para 1’ or the term ‘primipara’ means a person has previously given birth..
Lots of questions about your health
The majority of this page is taken up by an extensive list of questions about your health. The 26 points listed there must be worked through as your medical history is taken. The doctor, health care professional or midwife will determine if there are certain diseases in your family, such as diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus is the medical term for diabetes. This is a metabolic disease in which blood glucose levels are permanently elevated, which can affect organ function. Diabetes produces symptoms such as severe thirst, frequent urination, weakness and fatigue. The disease can be well treated by insulin therapy, physical activity and making dietary changes., high blood pressure or genetic disordersGenetic diseases Genetische Krankheiten Genetic diseases are hereditary diseases that can be inherited within families. This does not mean that these diseases necessarily occur in every generation. They only occur with certain combinations involving parental hereditary diseases.. Any history you may have diseases of the heart, lungs or liver will also be noted. A note will also be made if your weight is particularly high or particularly low since your physical characteristics can be important for how the pregnancy develops. If you are shorter than average, this will be noted under a German term that translate to ‘short stature’. That means about 97% of people your age are taller than you. To help keep you and your baby safe, your doctor or midwife will also want to know if there have been any complications associated with other pregnancies. For example, you will be asked if you have ever had a miscarriage, abortion or premature birth. You will also be asked whether there were difficulties during a previous delivery or during the postpartum period. Other questions on the list relate to mental health problems and social pressures. These factors can also influence the course of your pregnancy.
Assessment of high-risk pregnancy
It's important that you answer all these questions honestly. Depending on how you answer these 26 questions, your pregnancy may be classified as a high-risk pregnancy according to official German maternity guidelines (Mutterschaftsrichtlinien)Maternity guidelines (Mutterschaftsrichtlinien) Mutterschaftsrichtlinien Maternity guidelines regulate the medical care that pregnant people should receive before and after giving birth. They are determined by the experts of the Joint Federal Committee. This committee decides the point in time and content of the examinations, tests, consultations, actions, records and certificates relevant to pregnant people, which are performed or issued by doctors and midwives.. But that's not bad or unusual. Many pregnancies theoretically fall into this category. In practice, however, your gynaecologist, your obstetrician and your midwife will weigh this decision very carefully. They will be able to assess your overall health and if in doubt, will consult with other people who are providing you with medical care. Above all, classifications like ‘high-risk pregnancy’ are associated with particularly attentive preventive care and treatment. It is also important for choosing where you will give birth.
Important technical medical terms in Germany
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AdipositasObesity Adipositas Obesity is the medical term for describing the condition of being severely overweight. Obesity is when a person's excess weight takes on a form that results in various health problems and a reduced quality of life. Good nutrition and sufficient exercise can prevent or reduce obesity. Overweight
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Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus is the medical term for diabetes. This is a metabolic disease in which blood glucose levels are permanently elevated, which can affect organ function. Diabetes produces symptoms such as severe thirst, frequent urination, weakness and fatigue. The disease can be well treated by insulin therapy, physical activity and making dietary changes. diabetes
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HypertonieHypertension Hypertonie Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure can have several causes. Being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, consuming too much salt, and not getting enough exercise can all contribute to high blood pressure. If blood pressure is permanently elevated, it can lead to strokes, heart attacks or kidney damage. Hypertension or high blood pressure
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MangelgeburtSmall for gestational age Mangelgeburt A small for gestational age newborn describes a newborn that is born after the 38th week of pregnancy and is small in size or low in weight. The use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy or a illness during pregnancy can cause small for gestational age newborns. However, most small for gestational age newborns develop normally. Low birth weight or a baby that is undersized
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Komplikationen porst partumPost partum complications Komplikationen post partum Post partum complications include all complications that can occur after childbirth. These complications can have a wide variety of causes. Examples of complications after childbirth include postpartum depression, infections, inflammation or excessive postpartum bleeding. Incidents of note or illness after birth
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Rhesus-InkompatibilitätRhesus incompatibility Rhesus-Unverträglichkeit Rhesus (Rh) incompatibility occurs when the blood groups of two people are incompatible. The Rhesus factor is part of the blood group system, which is used to distinguish between the different blood types. Blood transfusions or pregnancy may cause this type of incompatibility. In the rare case of blood from the foetus passing to the mother, complications may arise and the administration of medication may be necessary. Rh incompatibility, meaning the blood groups of mother and fetus are incompatible
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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. Caesarean section
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SkelettanomalieSkeletal abnormality Skelettanomalie Skeletal abnormality is the medical term for all skeletal deformities, i.e. abnormal human bone structure. If a pregnant person has any deformities that can have an influence on the birthing process, they are entered in the maternity record (Mutterpass). For example, an pregnant person could have an unusually small pelvis. Skeletal anomaly, meaning physical characteristics do not conform to the usual norm
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SterilitätsbehandlungInfertility treatment Sterilitätsbehandlung Infertility treatment is the medical term for treatments that can have a positive effect on the possibility of pregnancy for people who want to have children. It includes hormone treatments and determining the optimal time for fertilisation. Infertility treatments also include procedures to transfer sperm into the cervix, uterus or fallopian tube, or artificial insemination of an egg outside the body. These types of treatments are recorded in the maternity record (Mutterpass). These pregnancies are considered high-risk pregnancies and are monitored very closely. Sterility treatment, meaning medical treatment of a fertility disorder in you or your partner
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ThromboseThrombosis Thrombose Thrombosis is the medical term for the formation of a blood clot, i.e. a blockage within a blood vessel. When thrombosis occurs in the heart, brain or lungs, there is acute danger to life. Thrombosis in the legs or arms can cause pain, swelling, and increased visibility of the veins. Especially in the last months of pregnancy, there is an increased risk of thrombosis in the abdomen, pelvis and legs. Thromboses can be treated with compression stockings, medication or surgery. Thrombosis, meaning vascular blockage due to a blood clot
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UterusoperationUterine surgery Uterusoperation Uterine surgery is the medical term for all surgeries performed on the uterus, or womb. These include caesarean section, curettage, sterilisation and the removal of tumours. The corresponding information in the maternity record (Mutterpass) is intended to help healthcare professionals assess what risks may occur during pregnancy or childbirth. Surgical procedure on the uterus
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ZNSCentral nervous system Zentralnervensystem The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. All perceptions, all thinking, feeling, remembering and all conscious movements of human beings are controlled, processed and passed on by means of this system. The central nervous system is often abbreviated as CNS. Central Nervous System