As you’re preparing for the arrival of your little one, you might be looking for some professional guidance about what to expect in the lead up to and during labor as well as the postpartum period.
Birth preparation classes are led by midwives and can help answer some of the following questions:
How can a couple prepare for a baby?
What are the different stages of labour?
What are the signals that labour is starting?
When to go to your chosen place for giving birth?
What tools, positions or drugs might help during labour?
When might a pregnant person be induced?
Relaxation and breathing techniques
The role of the partner (if applicable)
The postnatal period and caring for a baby
These antenatal classes can also be a great way to meet other expecting couples!
Different Types of Birth preparation classes
There’s different types of courses, such as with and without the partner, or for families expecting multiples or families that already have children.
Some courses run for a few weeks in the evening, while others are intensive courses that are held on a single weekend.
When to take the course
Depending on the length of your course, you should start it between the 25th and 30th week of pregnancy.
Special courses, such as those focusing on HypnoBirthing techniques, might start earlier so there’s enough time to practice the techniques you learned before your baby is born.
However, make sure to book your course ahead of time as spots go quickly! I would recommend to start looking at the different options at least 2 months before you want to take the course.
Who pays for the course?
For the classic birth preparation course, the pregnant person's fee is covered by the health insurance. The partner’s participation fee (mostly around €150) is not usually reimbursed but do check with your insurance.
Specialty courses (such as the above-mentioned HypnoBirthing courses) are not usually covered by health insurance but it is always worth checking, especially if the course is run by a midwife.
Here’s an overview of professionals and midwife practices that offer (live) birth preparation classes in English:
Charlottenburg/Westend
DRK Kliniken Westend - in-person
Geburtshaus Charlottenburg – in-person
Friedrichshain
Hebammenzeit - in-person
Hebammenpraxis Bauchgefühl – in-person
Irene Tribal Shakti - in-person and online (short course)
Karlshorst
Hebammenpraxis Lichtblick – in-person (1 day on the weekend, they also offer birth preparation courses in Italian)
Kreuzberg
Hebammerie - in-person or hybrid
Manoah Zentrum (Magdalena Sternberger) – in-person
Marie Lakshmi - in-person (package of 13 sessions, incl. hypno birthing, yoga and reiki)
Moabit
Hebammenpraxis Moabit – in-person on the weekend in English as well as Italian
Neukölln
Spree Hebammen – in-person on the weekend (covered by the German health insurance for the pregnant person. The partner fee is €140.)
Prenzlauer Berg
Hebammenpraxis Prenzlauer Berg - in-person or hybrid
Praxis Lemm (also offers HypnoBirthing classes)
Hebammengemeinschaft Mittendrin – sometimes offers courses in English
Hebammenpraxis Bauchraum – in-person
Schöneberg
Geburtshaus Schöneberg – in-person or online with midwife Julia Scherzer
Schöneweide
Hebammenpraxis Schöneweide – in-person
Weißensee
Hebammenpraxis Weissensee – in-person (also offers birth preparation classes in Spanish and Russian)
Heviana - sometimes offer courses in English
Wilmersdorf
Martin Luther Krankenhaus - in-person on certain Saturdays of the year, contact midwife Rashmi Sharma for dates: rashmi.hebamme(at)yahoo.com
Location to be advised
Cocoon Hebammenkollektiv – Queer/Trans* Birth Preparation Classes (usually in German)
Online Only
Fokus Leben – not currently offering courses in English as of September 2023, but do check back
Jutta Wohlrab – in-person and online
Rainbow Doula - Decolonizing the pregnant body (pre-recorded)
Gravidamiga – online (not covered by health insurance)
Hebamme Sacha – online (covered by health insurance)
Mindful Mama Abroad – online (not covered by health insurance)
Happy birthing prep!