The amount of child allowance you receive depends on the number of your children- whether you have an income and what you earn have no impact on the amount of child benefit you receive. Originally created for low-income families to give all babies an equal start in life, Finland’s freebie package became available to all moms in 1949. Fathers aren’t allowed in the delivery room unless they’ve taken a prenatal class with the mom. However, it is common not to have a baby shower at all. About 96% of abortions carried out in Germany are through this program. If you are between 18 and 20 years old, you only have to pay 10% of the birth control pill if you are covered by statutory health insurance. Visit. Their hosts also rub flour on baby’s eyebrows and hairline to give him a long life. If you want a "confidential delivery", you can contact the counselling centre "Beratung & Geburt vertraulich" 24 hours a day at 0800-4040020 or visit www.geburt-vertraulich.de for online counselling. The service is free and anonymous, and the staff speak many languages. German Culture. Check your "Mutterpass" to find out which tests and checkups are necessary and when. Their multilingual staff are available 24 hours at 0800 40 40 020. German Birthday Customs and Traditions(Deutsche Geburtstagsbräuche und Traditionen) Never wish a German a happy birthday before their birthday. Doctors only intervene in high-risk cases or if complications arise during delivery. When in Germany… Do eat with a fork and knife, shake hands when greeting people and be on time, always.. Don’t dress like a slob, compare anyone to Nazis or stare at the naked people.. You can read more about maternity benefits in the section "What should I plan for during pregnancy?". (We could get down with that!) It can throw the mother (and father) off the track for a while. The "Elterngeld" is intended to compensate for your lost income during the parental leave. Names that are objects (like Apple) or surnames are never allowed, and you must be able to tell the baby’s gender by his or her first name. Triangulation method was used for data collection. You can find the appropriate form on the website of the Federal Employment Agency. If you have had unprotected sex and are worried that you might get pregnant, you can take the so-called "morning-after pill" within 12 hours of having sexual intercourse. When baby girls are born in Germany, several trees are planted. Naturalisation: obtaining German citizenship, Starting up as Self-Employed ("Freiberufler"). The grandmother’s other job is to help mom get back into pre-pregnancy shape with a routine that includes a belly-flattening massage with a towel dipped in hot water. In spite of modernisation, the culture of the You will actually be provided mandatory time-off from work, before and after childbirth. Breast-feeding, or nursing, is very popular in Germany and the Maternity Protection Act made certain this important facet of motherhood would not be neglected. But apart from your child, nobody has such a right. If you are not married, the father of the child can declare paternity. We store information about your visit in so-called cookies. You can find out more about the various abortion methods in many different languages ​​at zanzu.de. When the girl grows up and gets engaged, they sell the trees and use the money for her dowry. During this time you do not work or do so for shorter hours (not more than 30 hours a week). It can throw the mother (and father) off the track for a while. Even if asked, you do not have to tell the truth. German birth traditions are centered around baby naming. It usually costs between 15  to 30 euro. Learning and Teaching German. After baby arrives, the new mom traditionally stays at her parents home for at least a month, and rests in bed for 21 days to recuperate and bond with baby, while family members pitch in with chores. Instead of being showered with gifts when baby is born, it’s the opposite in Brazil—when guests come to see mother and child in the hospital, she gives them a basket of presents instead. Adjusting to motherhood is made a little easier if you happen to be an employed woman working for a German company. Source: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women & Youth. Period. According to §218 of the German Criminal Code, abortion is unlawful and only not punishable when done under certain circumstances: Please note: If you are under 18 years of age and want to go through an abortion, your mother or father usually need to agree. the so-called civil marriage), you and your child's father hold the joint custody of your child. Starting a family in a foreign country can be an unsettling prospect. If you are pregnant and working, you are entitled to "maternity benefits" ("Mutterschaftsgeld")- you need to apply for it at your health insurance seven weeks before the childbirth. The state provides all the German and (partly) foreign families with child benefit, i.e. It’s also the day when moms take their first post-birth bath. If you want to end your pregnancy for other reasons, you will have to pay part of the expenses yourself; as your health insurance will only cover the costs of medical consultation and care as well as the medication before and after the procedure. Please note: In general, every woman, regardless of whether she is pregnant or not, should go to the gynaecologist at least once a year. you have a permanent residence permit ("Niederlassungserlaubnis"). You can find a counselling centre nearby online, for instance, on the website of Pro Asyl. In this case, you have to find a new job or register yourself as a job seeker. If you want to honor your German heritage, incorporate some of these traditions into your next holiday. In addition, you will be reading about the "morning-after pill" ("Pille danach") and contraceptive means in general. In this Hindu country, an important birthing tradition is burying the placenta, which is believed to be alive and almost like a twin sibling of the newborn. Dutch women decide whether they want a home or hospital delivery. If the father of the newborn baby wants to go on parental leave after the childbirth, he should inform his boss (at the latest) seven weeks before the delivery. The many formerly independent kingdoms, duchies, and other small and large entities that made up the German Empire, led to variations and customs relating to marriage. Dating in Germany can seem overwhelming, like dating in any foreign country, but it can also be a rewarding and exciting experience. If you are over 16, the doctor may decide that you no longer need the consent of your parents; but under the age of 16, you will often need at least one parent’s  consent. If so, you have to apply for maternity benefits directly at the. Most expectant moms in Holland don't see an obstetrician, but are instead referred by their family doctor to a local midwife practice. Pregnancy and childbirth may be a universal experience, but each culture celebrates baby’s arrival in its own way. If you want to spend more time with your child, you can go on parental leave ("Elternzeit"). once every two weeks. If you suspect that you are pregnant, you can buy a pregnancy test kit from a drugstore and pharmacy and take a pregnancy test at home. Even if nobody can know about your pregnancy, there is still a possibility to give birth to your child- and you do not have to go through the process on your own either. Japan: Ansei. It is essential that you do not forget these checkups- checkups are the only way your doctor can recognise risks at an early stage and prevent further difficulties. you have a residence permit which allows you to work in Germany. Make sure you seek advice from a counselling centre regarding parental benefit in advance. You can read more about parental leave in the section "I would like to go on parental leave after the childbirth - is that possible?". All pregnant women are required to pick up a kraampakket that includes all of the medical supplies needed for a home birth. If you become pregnant through rape, or if your pregnancy endangers your health, your health insurance or the Social Welfare Office will cover the costs of abortion. Plus, he/she will check the baby’s heartbeat. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies. German folk beliefs and superstitions 1. man B el ie fs andGer Su perst itions 2. In the first eight weeks after birth, however, you must not work under any circumstances- such regulation is called maternity protection or "Mutterschutz". Nobody will know your name except for a female consultant, and she is not allowed to talk to anyone about you- so you remain anonymous. Employers and Health Insurance. | All rights reserved. I’ve written a whole series about prenatal care in Germany on this blog but haven’t said a single thing about postpartum care. For more information about finding a doctor visit Medical Services in Germany. A similar experience awaits unmarried women turning this age. Furthermore, you have exclusive rights in the workplace. In such classes, you often learn breathing exercises and relaxation techniques and can ask all your questions regarding the childbirth process. If you would like to know more about the childbirth process and prepare for it, you can attend a birth preparation course ("Geburtsvorbereitungskurs"), the costs of which are covered by the health insurance. As a non-German citizen, you are entitled to child allowance if: The application for child benefit must be submitted in writing to the family fund ("Familienkasse") of the Federal Employment Agency at your place of residence. According to tradition, women sleep with their newborns in their arms and will not be separated from them after delivering for a period of twenty days, which is when they resume their normal activities. It can only prevent pregnancy but not terminate it. A midwife is a health-care professional who specialises in attending pregnant women and infants. It can throw the mother (and father) off the track for a while. At the end of *la dieta, moms are given a bath with herbs, perfume and a cup of milk or three rose petals to mark their re-entry into the everyday world. It is considered bad luck to do so. Also off limits: names that can negatively affect baby’s well-being (for example, Apple). Seen as divine beings descended from heaven, their feet can’t touch the ground for 210 days. In this case, you do not need to go to a counselling centre before abortion. Instead, friends and family will send a gift to the new parents. Please note: If you receive benefits from the Social Welfare Office, Jobcentre, BAB or BAföG, or in case you do not earn much, you can apply for the assumption of the costs of abortion (“Übernahme der Kosten für die Abtreibung”) at your health insurance or the Social Welfare Office. Bangladesh. If you want to share the custody with the father of the child, you must both submit a so-called "custody declaration"(Sorgerechtserklärung") at the responsible Youth Welfare Office. I’d say it is high time to correct that! You can read more in the section "What should I do after childbirth?". There are no baby showers in Turkey—celebrations are postponed until after the little one is born. The German health insurance company (Krankenkasse) must also be informed of the pregnancy. Most Japanese women aim to deliver their baby sans painkillers, an ancient belief that stems from the Buddhist belief that labor pains must be endured as a test to prepare for the difficulties of motherhood. The parent who holds custody is responsible for the child's upbringing. For example: 1. during pregnancy, women from some cultures do not eat certai… If you are pregnant and in need of help, call the "Pregnant in Distress Helpline" (“Hilfetelefon Schwngere in Not”). You can abort the foetus until the 12th week after conception if you have already visited a counselling centre, talked to an expert and have received a consultation certificate, which proves that you as a pregnant woman have received comprehensive advice. You need to send this certificate directly to your health insurance. You should show this booklet every time you go to your gynaecologist, midwife or hospital. During this period, you are, in principle, entitled to a tolerated stay permit or "Duldung". Jan. 20, 2021. People often identify its main source of value being the unique personal relationship one has with each family member and the support they receive from one another. Here we explain your rights and options regarding abortion and adoption. PHOTO provided by the author. That explains why conventional names (Marie, Sophia, Maximilian and Alexander are high on the list these days) accounted for 97 percent of baby names last year. At www.rechtsberaterkonferenz.de, you can find lawyers who specialise in advising refugees and asylum seekers. Freelance Contributors | Handbook Germany, http://handbookgermany.de/content/wtg/en/live/pregnancy/jcr:content/par/accordion.detail.html, the application for maternity benefits online, download the application form for parental allowance, http://handbookgermany.de/content/wtg/en/live/pregnancy/jcr:content/par/accordion_2098722921.detail.html, You can search for a midwife who will look after you during pregnancy and after childbirth. You can find a counselling centre in your area on the website of the Familienportal. Like Latin America’s cuarentena, mothers here are nurtured with a similar custom called la dieta.” In rural areas, a father gives his wife a shirt that’s damp with his sweat after a hard day’s work while she’s in labor, which folklore says will give her strength. If the moniker’s not on the list, they have to make a strong case for why the state should make an exception. The staff speak many languages ​​and can provide you with cost-free and anonymous advice on all relevant topics. Otherwise, the mother is the sole holder of a child's custody. Her first was delivered by … They might celebrate baby showers at the actual birth or when mom and baby return home. To find a gynaecologist you can check frauenaerzte-im-netz.de or ask your family doctor ("Hausarzt") for a referral. Please note: Only if your marriage is registered in the Civil Registry Office (i.e. Many women giving birth in Australia believe it is important to follow the traditional pregnancy and birth practices of their culture. In the third, sixth and eighth months, an additional ultrasound test is performed to check the fetus's development. Always take your "Mutterpass" with you when you leave home so that in a case of an emergency, every doctor can quickly access the most crucial information about the health condition of you and your baby and your course of pregnancy. the German holiday season is a time for introspection, celebration, and family and friends; it is less consumption-oriented than in the United States. During this time, they solely dedicate themselves to breastfeeding and taking care of the baby. I was surprised to learn that more than half of the women at my midwife's practice deliver at home. The multilingual guide about maternal health developed by “MiMi-Initiative for Maternal Health in Germany” is available in 7 languages. During the elaborate ceremony, the placenta is cleaned, put in a sealed container, wrapped in white cloth and then buried outside of the home. For every underage child, the parent will receive about 200 euro child allowance per month. Ultrasounds/Sonograms or Ultraschallaufnahmen are not considered at all hazardous in Germany so you can expect these much more frequently. Furthermore, you can also apply for financial support from the Federal Foundation for Mother and Child ("Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind"). You have to pay for the actual abortion process, which usually costs between 200 to 600 euro. After 16 years and under certain circumstances, your child have the right learn your name. You will not receive a salary during parental leave, but you can apply for parental allowance or "Elterngeld". If you are still in the asylum procedure, you can ask the staff member responsible at the Social Welfare Office if the costs can be covered. Mothers have the option to take a cash grant instead, but the majority opt for the starter kit, which is worth a lot more. The costs for such care are either taken over by your health insurance or the Social Welfare Office ("Sozialamt"). 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