Tips For Choosing Where to Give Birth in Munich

If you’re not German, and find yourself pregnant in Munich, it can be challenging to figure out where to give birth. 

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had tons of questions; How do I look up the birth clinics in my area? What are they called in German? Will I be able to find the information I need when their websites are all in German? Are there birth hospitals in Munich with staff that speak English? 

Many parents I support feel the same way. Some get so overwhelmed that they decide to give birth at the nearest clinic. …but location isn’t everything! Many first-time parents worry that birth will be too fast. They fear they won’t have time to get to their preferred birth location. In reality, that is rarely the case. What’s more important is how you feel about the environment and the people who will be supporting you there.

When it comes to giving birth in Munich, there are many options available. Within the city limits there are currently ten birth hospitals and clinics. There are also two midwife-run birth centers and a few homebirth midwives.  Of course, you can ask for recommendations. But, even if a friend said one clinic is great, your experience may be very different. On the flip side, just because you’ve heard negative things about a particular location, that doesn’t mean that you will feel the same way about it.

The most important thing is that the setting you choose for your birth aligns with your personal priorities, and the experience you hope to have. Everyone has different hopes for birth. The right choice for one person may differ from the right choice for you. 

I’ve been a doula in Munich for nearly 10 years. I have supported over 75 couples during labor and birth, led 55 childbirth classes, and facilitated many online forums. The most common posts are from expectant parents asking for recommendations for a birth hospital in Munich, or for reviews of a specific clinic. But it’s important to remember that any recommendations or reviews are very personal, and only examples of what you might experience at a given clinic. Some stories are positive, some concerning. Public reviews are disproportionately written by people who were not happy with their experience — so these stories can be particularly alarming — but if you ask around enough you’ll hear good and bad things about every clinic in Munich. 

So I want to point out the limitations of recommendations, and share with you some ways to more reliably help you to decide what birth setting might be right for you. 

Here are some of the reasons the recommendations of others might not be helpful:

A “Good” Experience is Different for Everyone

Birth is an extremely unique experience, and everyone’s preferences and desires surrounding birth are very personal. For example, a mother who definitely wants an epidural might be happiest at a clinic that uses epidurals frequently — while that same clinic may be seen as pushy to a mother who hopes to avoid an epidural. 

We don’t know what we don’t know

Most people have only given birth at one clinic. If they have had more than one baby, they often return to the same place for subsequent births. This means they don’t have a sense of whether they might have had a better experience somewhere else. Furthermore, if someone had very low expectations, they may think the care they received was great — whereas someone with high expectations could be very disappointed by the same clinic. 

The People Supporting Your Birth will Be Different

In Germany, which midwives and doctors will support you for birth depends on who is on shift at that clinic at that time, and it’s unlikely you will get to know them before birth. Every clinic has a team of midwives and doctors, and although they have standards of care with routines and procedures, the language and communication skills, as well as ability to provide emotional support, will be very different from person to person. Every clinic has some staff members who speak great English and others who barely speak any English at all. And it all depends on who is on shift when you are there for the birth.

When chief doctors and head midwives retire or change their employment to a different location, this can change the way the care is provided at that location. I’ve been a doula long enough to see major personnel shifts over the years and a clinic that used to have a great culture of communication and informed consent went downhill, while a clinic that was very controlling a few years ago has been effectively working on creating a more supportive atmosphere for birthers.

So, if recommendations won’t help you decide, what might? 

Instead of searching for external information and feedback regarding birth clinics, look within.

How you feel about the people and environment at a given location will likely inform how your birth will go — because the hormones that support labor are powerfully influenced by our emotions. Above all, it’s important to choose a place where you feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe. 

Here are some ways to find out and observe how you feel as you explore your options:

Look At The Statistics

Many clinics will offer some of their statistics on their websites, such as number of midwives, number of doctors, and number of births per year. Additional public information regarding the statistics for each clinic is often available through your insurance company, so you may want to contact them and ask some questions — or check out the German-wide, interactive birth clinic map available from the non-profit organization motherhood e.v. here

A doctor from Harvard Medical School said that the biggest factor in having a cesarean section is the clinic you choose. So, to avoid a cesarean, pick a clinic with a low cesarean rate.
The number of midwives at a given clinic and the number of births they support each year can help you understand how much time the midwives might have to devote to you — so consider the ratio of births to the number of midwives on staff.

Go to an Info Session — Even If It’s in German

If the website for a given clinic doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, attend one of their info events. Some are online and some are in-person, but either way, they’ll be more in-depth and you’ll be given the chance to ask questions. Even more interesting than the information will be how the staff responds to your questions. That can say a lot about the care you can expect. If you want a clinic that will listen to your birth preferences and give you thorough information as you make decisions about your care, look for how openly and confidently they present themselves. 
Look at photos of the birth rooms and consider how you would feel being there
Some Munich hospitals have facilities for a gentle birth environment. They offer indirect light, soft colors, large beds for birth, and ways to help birthers stay active and upright during labor. Clinics with large bathtubs for water births are often more supportive of intervention-free birth. Other clinics have facilities that feel much like sterile hospital rooms. Because movement is so important for labor, the size of the room can play a role in how a birth will go. It’s no coincidence that the clinic in Munich with the smallest rooms has the highest cesarean rate. But, if you’re planning to have a cesarean birth, that clinic might be perfect for you. They have a lot of experience with cesareans and post-op recovery.   

Understand What Makes Each Clinic Unique

Not all the ten clinics and hospitals in Munich provide the same type of care. Clinics that are called Frauenkliniken are for female health in general, but often will not have intensive neonatal care on site. Hospitals, or Krankenhäuser have more infrastructure, such as pediatric care units. In German, the word Klinik is often used as a general word referring to both clinics and hospitals. Today, all of the Munich birth clinics have reached the status of Perinatalzentrum Stufe 1. This status reflects their top-notch tech and skilled doctors. But, they each have varying numbers of cases that they care for each year. A few clinics have specialized for over a decade in intensive neonatal care. They care for hundreds of newborns with special needs each year. Their vast experience helps them provide better emotional support when things get tough.

Others may have the infrastructure, but lack experience. Each clinic also has a different financial structure. Städtische Kliniken are funded by the city of Munich. Universitätskliniken are affiliated with local universities. Privatkliniken are funded by another organization, like the catholic church or the Bavarian Red Cross. A few of the private clinics are corporations. This includes the Helios clinics in Pasing and Dachau, and the Frauenklinik Geisenhofer. The Geisenhoferklinik also fits into the subcategory of a Belegklinik. A Belegklinik is a clinic contracted by private practice doctors.

When choosing a place to birth your baby, let your intuition guide you. Explore your options, then choose the place that aligns best with how you envision your birth. It should be a place where you feel seen and heard. Remember that your birth will be unique, shaped by your expectations.

I’ve supported births at all Munich clinics and many nearby ones. If you want more insights, schedule an online session with me. We’ll explore your options and find the best fit for you.