Mater­nity bene­fits

You should see a doctor for a thorough examination as soon as possible after your pregnancy has been confirmed. Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, carry out a physical and pelvic examination, take your blood pressure, measure your weight, and have your blood values, blood group, and Rhesus factor determined in a laboratory. You will be informed about the risks of getting HIV and will be offered an HIV test. You will also be given advice on the flu jab, oral hygiene, and healthy eating during pregnancy.

Mutterpass [Personal Maternity Notes]

All medical findings and the results of the screenings are recorded in your personal maternity notes. You should keep your personal maternity notes with you at all times so that a doctor who does not know you can respond appropriately in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Antenatal visits

Routine antenatal check-ups are scheduled every four weeks during normal pregnancy. During the last two months prior to childbirth, you will have an appointment every fortnight. In addition to urine components, blood pressure, and weight, the size of the uterus as well as the growth, position, and cardiac activity of the baby are checked at these appointments.

You do not have to make co-payments for medication, dressing material, remedies and assistive devices prescribed for the treatment of pregnancy-related illnesses.

Ultrasound scans

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, three routine utra-sound scans are scheduled

• between the 9th and 12th week of pregnancy.
• between the 19th and 22nd week of pregnancy.
• between the 29th and 32nd week of pregnancy.

Prior to your first ultrasound scan, your doctor will give you an information leaflet about the examination, its advantages and limitations as well as possible consequences and will also give you advice. You can choose between a basic scan or an extended scan for the second ultrasound examination.

Test for gestational diabetes

You are offered a test for gestational diabetes in the 25th to 28th week of pregnancy. This involves a blood test before which you can eat and drink as normal. The doctor will measure your blood sugar level one hour after drinking a glucose preparation. In case the level is higher than standard, a second more comprehensive test and, if necessary, continuing care in close cooperation with a diabetes specialist will be arranged. Your doctor will settle the costs for the glucose tolerance test via your TK eHealth card directly with TK.

Preparation for birth and postnatal exercise

Midwives offer courses to prepare you as an expectant mother for childbirth. You can learn methods for postnatal exercises up to the ninth month following childbirth as well. If you provide an informal medical prescription, you can also attend such courses offered by a physiotherapist. The costs for this service are settled directly with TK.

On-call midwifery service

For the last weeks of your pregnancy, you can arrange for an on-call service with a midwife for the forthcoming birth. You can contact your midwife 24 hours a day during this period. She will answer your questions and is with you when you give birth.

TK reimburses charges for the on-call service up to the amount of 250 EUR. Please submit the original invoice from your midwife to your TK:

Techniker Krankenkasse, 20905 Hamburg

Home care/domestic help

If justified, you are entitled to domestic help if you are not able to run your household due to pregnancy or after childbirth. This applies equally to home care. Both services can only be granted if no one else in your household can take on these tasks. Please contact your TK in such cases: Phone +49 40 - 46 06 62 53 00.

Costs of transportation

TK bears the costs of transportation to hospital for childbirth. In case you need to go by taxi or ambulance, please have this prescribed by your attending doctor. You do not require a prescription for emergency transport to hospital.

You have to make a co-payment of ten per cent. The minimum amount to be paid is 5 EUR and the maximum is 10 EUR, but not exceeding the actual costs. This also applies to insurees who are not yet 18 years of age. A co-payment has to be made for any one-way trip, irrespective of the transport used.

Childbirth

You choose the contract hospital where to have your baby. Please register at the hospital as early as possible. The hospital will settle the costs for delivery and subsequent care with TK via your TK eHealth card. You do not need to make any co-payments during this time. Please contact TK for information on additional costs in case you choose to deliver in a hospital further away. TK also bears the costs for home birth or outpatient delivery in a contract birth centre.

Important documents

You should bring your Mutterpass [personal maternity notes] and personal identification (identity card, passport or similar) with you when going to hospital to give birth. Please also bring your marriage certificate if you are married. Many hospitals automatically register births at the local registry office. Others leave that to the parents. In this case, you will receive all the documents you need from the hospital and will have to go to the registry office to get a free birth certificate or confirmation of birth of your child with a note stating "Gilt nur für die Hilfe bei Schwangerschaft und Mutterschaft" ["Only valid for benefits relating to pregnancy and maternity"]. Please send us the original document as soon as possible and we will be pleased to check whether you are entitled to maternity pay .

Postnatal care

You are entitled to midwifery-led postnatal care during the first twelve weeks after childbirth. Your doctor can prescribe additional postnatal care from a midwife, if necessary. During this period of time, the midwife will look after you at home and give advice on healthy eating, breastfeeding, postnatal exercise, skin care, and other questions on the daily care of the new-born baby. Furthermore, she is your contact for any concerns and problems you may have.

If you are supported by a lactation consultant (breastfeeding consultant), TK, unfortunately, cannot bear these costs since this service is not covered by statutory health insurance benefits.

Non-contributory dependants' insurance

As soon as your baby is born, TK will be happy to check whether your infant can be covered by your insurance without any additional contribution. Simply request the relevant questionnaire as well as the information leaflet "Non-contributory dependants' insurance". You can, of course, have your baby insured as an individual member with TK if your child cannot be covered by non-contributory dependants' insurance.

Medicines during pregnancy and while breastfeeding

Today, medications, which can be safely taken during pregnancy and when breastfeeding, are available for almost all conditions. Nevertheless, medications need to be chosen carefully during this period. Our medication overview TK-Via can offer support for you, your doctor and your pharmacist. You can easily request your personal medication overview via the TK-App (available in English).

Alternatively you can call +49 40 - 46 06 62 53 00. Please indicate that you need additional information for expectant mothers and breastfeeding women. You will receive the overview by post.

TK-FamilyMediCall

The TK-FamilyMediCall hotline on 040 - 46 06 61 91 10 is available to answer your questions concerning the health of expectant mothers, babies, children, and teenagers. 
TK insurees can talk to independent and experienced paediatricians and other specialists from a wide range of disciplines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for example:

• dermatologists
• ENT specialists (ear, nose, throat)
• orthodontists
• orthopaedists
• medical psychotherapists

This service is free of charge to TK insurees. They only pay any telephone charges that may be incurred.

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