The course of your pregnancy is described in your maternity record
Have you got a positive pregnancy test in your hand? Two lines show that your whole life is about to change. Exciting and thrilling weeks begin until you hold your little miracle in your hand. You are pregnant - your midwife will accompany you during this wonderful time.
Perhaps you are like many other pregnant women: the test alone is not enough for you. You seek confirmation from your gynaecologist or midwife.
Your pregnancy is confirmed at your first appointment with the midwife or doctor. The document in which this examination and all other examinations during the course of the pregnancy are entered is called the maternity record. It is a blue book that will accompany you throughout the weeks of your pregnancy.
The maternity record is important! It not only accompanies you through your pregnancy, but also helps the midwife, doctors and the clinic that accompany you during pregnancy and birth to know which aspects of your and your baby's health require special attention. Carry the 16-page booklet with you at all times. Then you will have all the important information at hand for all eventualities. And above all, bring your maternity record with you to every antenatal appointment so that it can be kept complete.
Some women receive their maternity pass as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed, others from the moment their baby's heart starts beating (from the 5th week). In rare cases, the maternity pass is issued even later. In any case, you should have it by the 12th week of pregnancy at the latest.
By the way: The maternity pass belongs to you alone. Because it contains sensitive and very personal data, it is none of your employer's business. If you inform them that you are pregnant, you do not have to present your maternity pass as proof of your "condition".
All examination results, findings and important information about the mother and child are entered from A to Z in your maternity pass. This ranges from "abdominal circumference" (= abdominal circumference of the child) to "sugar in the urine". In terms of time, the documentation covers the entire pregnancy, the birth and the postnatal period. The records end six to eight weeks after the birth.
What exactly does the maternity record say?
Page by page, for example:
Page 1 documents the contact details of your doctor's surgery, your midwife and your maternity clinic. You can also make a note of your next antenatal appointments here.
Page 2 provides information about yourself: name and address as well as your blood group with rhesus factor. The so-called titre value is also shown. This indicates whether or how many antibodies you have against rubella.
Page 3 will provide evidence as to whether you are carrying certain pathogens. Some can be transmitted to the child now or at birth and endanger it. These include, for example, an infection with chlamydia or a hepatitis B infection. Careful examinations of your blood or urine will provide information about this. The results of these tests will be entered in your maternity record. If necessary, your doctor will inform you about the appropriate treatment options and arrange everything necessary.
Page 4 contains all important information on previous pregnancies and births. The types of birth and any special features are also noted here, as are abortions and miscarriages. Possible risks for the current pregnancy can be deduced from this information.
Pages 5 and 6: Your health and medical history is summarised here on the basis of a detailed list of questions. This is called anamnesis. Any special features of your current pregnancy are also noted - for example, whether you are expecting multiples or have gestational diabetes.
What you will also find here: the "officially" calculated due date. But you know that your baby can't do the maths yet. That's why it probably won't stick exactly to the date noted here, but may set off a few days earlier or later.
Page 7 and 8 shows a table called a gravogram, which shows the results of all examinations during your pregnancy. This includes entries on the development of your child (e.g. position, heartbeat, movements) as well as on you (e.g. weight, blood pressure, uterine position).
Page 9 is dedicated to any abnormalities that may have arisen from the medical history (pages 5 and 6). The dates of any hospitalisations up to the birth and the findings of the regular CTG from the 28th week of pregnancy are also noted here.
Page 10 to 14: Here is the place for the results of all Ultrasound examinations during your pregnancy. The size of the child and its head and abdominal diameters are entered in the diagram on page 13. These norm curves can be used to recognise whether the child is developing on time.
Page 15 and 16 summarise the most important results of your pregnancy and the key data on the birth. This includes the position of the baby, its weight, size and the result of the APGAR test. During the course of your labour, the involution of the uterus, the healing of birth injuries and any complications are recorded here. The final piece of information in the maternity record is the result of your final gynaecological examination at the end of the postpartum period.
Tip: Two pregnancies can be fully documented in each maternity record. So keep the document carefully after your first pregnancy. But even if you no longer wish to become pregnant, the little booklet is a valuable memento of a very special time. Therefore: Be sure to keep your maternity pass(es).
Take a look Here are the latest workshops on pregnancy, birth and babies by emergency service midwife Katharina. Registration is free of charge.
Are you still looking for care products for pregnancy? You can find NATRUE-certified, vegan and climate-neutral products at Mabyen. Here to get to the products.
