I have already introduced you to some support services for pregnant women and families in my blog. These include, for example, the network of Early help or the accompaniment by a Family midwife. And you probably already know my Online midwife counselling.
In addition to this, I would now like to introduce you to the right of pregnant and non-pregnant women, men and couples to free counselling at a pregnancy advice centre. Not everyone is aware that they have a legal right to this - and on which topics they can seek counselling.
Inez (23) is pregnant and is worried about how she is going to pay for the initial equipment for her child and how she will be able to make ends meet later on. Mira (18) has a positive pregnancy test, but has only just started her training and doesn't really want a child yet. Oliver and Mirko want to adopt a child. Yasmin has been a single mum for three months and wants to know what rights and obligations the father of the child has. Hakim would like to be prepared for his role as a father. Bitta is experiencing increasing stress with her partner, which is also putting a strain on the children. Leonie and Justus are faced with the question of whether they want to have a child at all. Jonas wants to look after his one-year-old son, but lives separately from his mother, who refuses Jonas' request for access.
There are so many questions and changes in the lives of women and men - before pregnancy, during pregnancy and also after pregnancy until the child is 3 years old. Therefore, the examples listed above are just a few of the many topics, uncertainties or problems that you can voluntarily approach a counsellor with. Pregnancy counselling centre can turn to. However, this term is misleading, as the statutory right to free counselling is not linked to an existing pregnancy, but also applies to non-pregnant women, men and couples of all genders.
Fundamentally important to know: Every consultation at a pregnancy counselling centre is free of charge and always remains confidential. Those seeking advice can also remain anonymous if they wish. You will always receive counselling regardless of your gender, nationality, culture, religion or ideology.
Possible topics for counselling
My overview here cannot be comprehensive. In addition, it is not always possible to clearly distinguish between the different subject areas, as they very often overlap in terms of content. For example, counselling on prenatal diagnostics touches on medical as well as legal and social issues.
Legal and financial matters: This area often deals with questions about the various entitlements that pregnant women, parents and families have. For example, it can be about child benefit, parental benefit or maternity benefit. However, custody and access rights, maintenance or finding accommodation can also be topics for counselling. In addition, the advice centres can also provide you with information about state benefits that secure your livelihood, such as citizen's allowance, basic income support or housing benefit. It is also not uncommon for the Rights of pregnant women in the workplace the subject of counselling. In other cases, the focus is on supplementary financial assistance for pregnant women in emergency situations, for example through the "Federal Foundation Mother and Child". There you can apply for money for maternity clothing, for the baby's first equipment or for nursery furniture, for example.
Pregnancy and baby: This involves questions such as Pregnancy check-upsto optimise the Birth preparation or to answer questions before, during and after the utilisation of prenatal diagnostics. Pregnant women with pre-existing conditions as well as pregnant women and mothers who have suffered violence can also find help here.
Once the baby is born, mothers/fathers/couples can also seek advice on dealing with the child, building a stable parent-child bond or the child's development. Not all, but many pregnancy advice centres also offer support with breastfeeding, dealing with the authorities or applying for parent-child cures. Some even organise breastfeeding groups or parent-child groups. Going to a pregnancy advice centre is also important, especially for very young (expectant) parents.
Medical and biological: In this sense, counselling here also includes questions about contraception and sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity. Counselling on the topic of Desire to have children has a medical side - and of course a personal one.
Social and personal matters: In this area, everything largely revolves around the life situation or emergency situation of those seeking advice. The counsellors can also support you with family, partnership or personal difficulties. You can also turn to them, for example, after a prenatal diagnosis with the question of what your future would look like with a disabled child. The counsellors can also help those affected to decide on a termination of pregnancy, a Miscarriage a stillbirth or a sudden infant death syndrome to process.
Quick help with pregnancy conflicts
It can happen that worries pile up in and around a pregnancy, that thoughts turn into a carousel of thoughts.
Then help is needed quickly. That's why there's the helpline.
If you also need a sympathetic ear for your concerns, you can call the toll-free number of the Help telephone choose.
You can also use this help as chat or email counselling.
Counselling before the decision to terminate a pregnancy
Counselling on all the topics mentioned above is always provided on a voluntary basis. The situation is different for special pregnancy counselling.conflictcounselling: If a pregnant woman is considering possibly not having the child, she is legally obliged, to be in a Pregnancy conflict counselling centre get advice. This can be done in person at the counselling centre. Only state-recognised counselling centres that are located at the local authority, at doctors' surgeries or at independent providers are approved for this (see below).
The counselling is always open-ended. Whatever decision a pregnant woman makes afterwards, she will always receive a "counselling certificate" after the consultation as proof that she has received proper counselling. The woman can only have the pregnancy terminated without penalty within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy on presentation of this certificate.
But beware:Some state-recognised pregnancy conflict counselling centres - mainly those run independently by Caritas or the Catholic Women's Social Service - also advise pregnant women who are having difficulty making a decision, but at the end of the counselling they provide them with No counselling certificate because an abortion would not be compatible with their principles.
It is therefore better to find out in advance whether you can get a counselling certificate from the counselling centre of your choice. Many women can only decide for or against an abortion once they have a counselling certificate in their hands. It relieves inner pressure. Whether a woman will actually need the certificate is another matter. After counselling, many women decide in favour of the child and against an abortion.
Procedure for counselling on the topic of parenthood
You are probably wondering what voluntary counselling on the above-mentioned topics might look like. As mentioned, counselling is always free of charge, confidential and, if desired, anonymous. The counsellors are always bound to confidentiality.
You can have the interview in person at the counselling centre, for example. You can also bring someone you trust with you to the previously arranged appointment if you wish. You can also get advice over the phone - or online via chat or a contact form. An initial telephone call or online counselling session may also result in a subsequent face-to-face appointment, for example if you need help filling out forms or if it would be useful for the counselling session to see you together with your child.
In any case, you can rest assured that the counsellors at your side are always well trained and very experienced. They will always treat you with respect, appreciation, empathy and without reservation. This also means that you will never be pushed in a certain direction or towards a certain decision. Instead, you will be given comprehensive information on a specific issue. Or we will explore with you which path you could take or what possible solutions there might be for your problem. However, you and your ideas always remain at the centre of the counselling process. In this sense, the counselling specialists are always there to support you with their questions and enquiries. If necessary, they can also put you in touch with other professionals, for example from the legal or medical field, with whom the counselling centre works.
Find a pregnancy counselling centre
Most people's first search will certainly lead them to the Internet. The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has a comprehensive database with almost all recognised Pregnancy counselling centres in Germany. After entering your place of residence, you will receive results in your area. In addition, you can pre-select the counselling centres in your area by simply ticking a box,
- who issue a counselling certificate after pregnancy conflict counselling,
- who can provide specialised advice on prenatal diagnostics,
- where you can apply for funding from the "Federal Foundation Mother and Child",
- where women on low incomes can apply to have the costs of contraceptives covered.
Recognised pregnancy advice centres are run by public or private bodies.
Public-law institutions of pregnancy counselling centres that can be contacted belong to the municipality, such as the health department and youth welfare office.
Independent sponsors of pregnancy counselling centres can offer various Welfare organisations be. The five leading organisations in this area are
- the Workers' welfare organisation (AWO):
- the Paritätische Gesamtverband (Der Paritätische)
- the Diaconia Germany (Protestant)
- the German Caritas Association (DCV, catholic)
- the German Red Cross (DRK)
Other independent organisations are Clubs such as:
- Social Service of Catholic Women (SkF)
