prenatal check-up

Prerequisites

No

Documents required

• electronic health card,
• Maternity pass (is issued during the initial examination)

Deadlines

No

Procedure

Contact your doctor or your health insurance company

Processing time

Depends on your doctor.

Fees

No


Services that go beyond adequate, appropriate and economical care are not paid for by the health insurance company.

Legal remedies

No

Legal basis

§ 73 paragraph 2 number 4 Social Code Book Fifth Book (SGB V)

http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__73.html


Guidelines of the Federal Committee of Doctors and Health Insurance Companies on medical care during pregnancy and after childbirth (maternity guidelines)

https://www.g-ba.de/downloads/62-492-2676/Mu-RL_2021-09-16_iK-2022-01-01.pdf


Section 24c of the Fifth Book of the Social Code (SGB V)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__24c.html

Statutory prenatal care includes a detailed consultation in which your doctor will ask you about personal and family illnesses, your current condition and your life situation. As part of the initial physical examination, weight and blood pressure are also measured and a blood and urine sample is taken.

After the initial examination, the doctor issues the maternity pass. All the data that is important for pregnancy and childbirth is noted in this passport.

After the initial examination, further checks are initially carried out at intervals of four weeks. These check-up appointments can also be attended by a midwife. In the last two months of pregnancy, the interval between check-ups is reduced to around two weeks. At each appointment, the doctor or midwife checks the child's heartbeat and your weight, for example. The hemoglobin level in your blood will also be monitored. In the course of pregnancy, a test for infection with hepatitis B (HBs antigen), an HIV test and a test for gestational diabetes are also offered. The "non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT)" for trisomy 13, 18 and 21 is not one of the generally recommended check-ups during pregnancy and is only paid for by the statutory health insurance companies if you and your doctor are convinced together that the test is necessary in your personal situation or if other examinations have indicated a trisomy.

Further offers are a (basic) ultrasound examination in the first (9th to 12th week of pregnancy), in the second (19th - 22nd week of pregnancy) and in the third (29th - 32nd week of pregnancy) of pregnancy (trimester). In the 2nd trimester, this examination can be carried out either as a basic ultrasound examination or as an extended basic ultrasound examination.

All prenatal examinations are voluntary - this means that you can refuse an examination or test that is offered at any time without giving reasons.