Here you can find on-site advice on personal, legal and financial matters during pregnancy:

• pro familia
• Pregnancy and family counseling of the Caritas-Verband Salzgitter e.V.
• Diakonie im Braunschweiger Land - advice for pregnant women

You will also always find someone who has an open ear for you in the family service and in our 10 family centers.

Make an appointment with your gynecologist. At the same time, contact a midwife for support during pregnancy and/or after the birth (pre- and postnatal care).

Please note our general recommendation: to abstain from alcohol, nicotine and drugs immediately! You should also discuss regular medication with your gynecologist and/or midwife.

Here you will find on-site advice on personal, legal and financial matters during pregnancy:

After the absence of menstruation or a positive pregnancy test, an appointment is made with the gynecologist, who will then carry out the check-up and also issue the maternity pass.

Midwives accompany you during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period (at least 12 weeks after the birth). You have a right to this. Please look for a midwife from the beginning of your pregnancy.

You can find all the information here:

If a pregnancy is normal, i.e. physiologically without risks, all options are available: Clinic, birth center or home birth.

• Maternity clinic:
  Helios Klinikum Salzgitter
• You will find the nearest birthing center in Hanover
• For a home birth, please refer to the question "Where and how do I find a midwife".

If a pregnancy is associated with risks, the only option is to give birth in a clinic. In the case of clinics, a distinction can be made between a pure maternity clinic and a clinic with an attached children's clinic. The latter has the advantage that the best possible care is available on site if the child has difficulties at the start.

The choice of which clinic or birth center is ultimately chosen is a matter of personal decision, and individual discussions and on-site visits (e.g. information evenings) contribute to the decision-making process. Questions here can include How many midwives are there locally? What options are there for delivering a child? What pain relief is available during childbirth? Midwife-led or doctor-led delivery room?

To help you and your partner relax and prepare for the birth, both independent midwives and our family education centers offer appropriate courses. These courses focus on breathing and relaxation exercises, helpful birth positions and how to prepare well for the birth of your child. In principle, you can always consult your gynecologist. However, there are also additional offers from various providers and specialists.

Here you can find a flyer on midwives in Salzgitter and the surrounding area:

Be sensitive to yourself; all your feelings are okay.

Give yourself and your baby plenty of rest and time to get to know each other.

Your child needs a lot of closeness now. Hold and caress it, take time to build up a bond with your child. The first latch-on to the breast is particularly important for your baby. You can allow the first suck at the breast, regardless of whether you want to or can breastfeed.

You can find more information at (link to download area U1 brochure)

Develop an awareness of your own well-being and individual sources of strength. Dare to prioritize your own needs, for example after leaving the clinic: arrive home in peace and quiet and don't receive too many visitors. Make sure you eat and drink a balanced diet.

From a purely material point of view, think of these things: nursing bra, nursing pad, possibly painkillers, nursing pads, nipple cream, possibly nursing caps. For the baby: possibly wound protection cream, healing wool, caraway suppositories, heat cushion (spelt core cushion).

If you have any further questions, please contact your midwife or doctor.

After the birth of your child, the hospital will send a birth announcement to the registry office. Both parents must sign the notification of birth and decide on a name.

Contact registry office see below!

What must be considered when choosing a first name?
The child's first name is determined by the parents. The name must not be contrary to the child's best interests. If you are not sure whether the name you have chosen can be registered for your child, please ask at the registry office.

How do I obtain a birth certificate? What documents must be submitted for the certification?
The jurisdiction of a registry office depends on the place where your child is born. The following documents are required in addition to the completed birth notification so that the birth certificate can be issued at the registry office without delay:

If the parents are married:

• Identity cards or passports of both parents
• Family register or marriage certificate
• Birth certificate of both parents
• If married abroad, additionally: marriage certificate with German translation and birth certificate of the parents
• Certificate of name change (for ethnic German immigrants)

For parents who are not married to each other:

• Identity card or passport of the mother
• Birth certificate of the mother
• Recognition of paternity (if available), birth certificate and identity card/passport of the father
• Certificate of declaration of joint custody (if available)
• Declaration on the granting of a name if the child is to bear the father's name and you have not made a joint declaration of custody
• if the mother is divorced, marriage certificate with annulment note or marriage certificate and divorce decree
• Certificate of name change (for ethnic German immigrants)

For foreign parents:

• Family register or marriage certificate with certified translation
• Passports of both parents
• Residence permit of both parents, if available (except EU citizens)

How much does the birth certificate cost?

An appointment must be made at the registry office to collect the certificates. The certification of the birth is generally free of charge. Costs are incurred for issuing the birth certificate (one certificate costs EUR 15, each additional identical certificate costs EUR 7.50). You will also receive three birth certificates free of charge, but these are only valid for the purpose stated on the certificate.

• Applying for pregnancy and maternity assistance from the health insurance fund
• Applying for child benefit
• Applying for parental allowance

The fee can be paid on collection. The BürgerCenter (registration office) receives notification of the birth of your child from the registry office. This completes the registration.

How do I get the tax identification number for my child?
You will receive the tax identification number for your child automatically by post from the Federal Central Tax Office after the birth has been certified. It is not necessary to apply for one.

What surname will my child be given?
If the parents are married and have a married name, the child will be given the married name as the surname. If the parents are married but do not have a married name or if the parents are not married to each other and have declared joint custody, they must jointly choose one of their surnames as the child's surname, which will then also apply to any other children they have together.

If the parents are not married and the mother has sole custody, the child will be given the mother's surname. However, she can also give the child his surname with the father's consent (declaration on the granting of a name).

If one or both parents are foreign nationals, the child may be given a different name. Please enquire about this at the registry office before the birth.

There is no obligation to clarify legal paternity. However, the child has a claim against its mother to clarify its parentage. Maintenance claims can only be asserted once paternity has been effectively established.

For a child whose parents are not or were not married at the time of birth, paternity can be acknowledged in the form of a certificate at the specialist service for children, youth and family (youth welfare office). Notarization is also possible before the child is born. Once the child has been born, paternity can also be certified at the registry office or by a notary.

Parents of a joint child automatically have joint custody if they are or were married to each other at the time of the birth. The same applies if the joint declaration of custody was notarized by a youth welfare office or notary. The existing joint custody can only be changed by a decision of the family court.

If a woman is not married (to the father) at the time of the birth, she has sole custody by law. This does not apply if (prenatal) paternity and joint custody have been recorded. In this case, the parents share joint custody of their child.

If the father is not married to the mother at the time of birth, she has sole custody by law. This does not apply if (prenatal) paternity and joint custody have been recorded. In this case, the parents share joint custody of their child.

For a child whose parents are not or were not married to each other at the time of birth, joint custody can be declared in the form of a certificate at the specialist service for children, youth and family (youth welfare office). Notarization is also possible before the child is born.

In principle, an unmarried mother has sole custody of the child. However, if the mother is still a minor at the time of the child's birth, a so-called "legal guardianship" is automatically established for the child. The so-called "official guardianship" is assumed by the local youth welfare office. As the mother is still a minor and therefore only has limited legal capacity under the law, the legislator wants to ensure that the child receives sufficient support. Provided there are no problems, the child remains in the care of the underage mother and is involved in all decisions.

The official guardian can help to establish a father. In such a case, contact the responsible official guardian to discuss the procedure. Paternity may then be established with the help of a guardian.

When the child's mother comes of age, the official guardianship ends automatically.

A maintenance certificate is also legally referred to as a title. In an enforceable document, the parent who is obliged to pay maintenance undertakes to pay maintenance to their child. If this obligation is not met, the entitled child can use this title to enforce their claims, e.g. by garnishing their salary.

The establishment of a guardianship can only be applied for by the parent caring for the child at the specialist service for children, youth and family (youth welfare office).

A guardianship can be used to clarify the parentage of a child or the child's maintenance claims against the parent living away from the household. The responsible specialist is the legal representative of the child for the aforementioned areas of responsibility (in addition to the parent providing care). The guardian is entitled to initiate the necessary legal proceedings on behalf of the child they represent. The work of a guardian is similar to that of a lawyer. If no judicial clarification is required or desired, maintenance claims can also be calculated and/or notarized as part of advice and support.

The maintenance entitlement of a child who only lives with the parent providing care is regularly calculated using the Düsseldorf table. It is not a statutory instrument, but is used by lawyers, courts and youth welfare offices alike as a recognized basis for calculation

If an unmarried parent is solely responsible for the care of a child, this caring parent is generally entitled to so-called care maintenance until the child reaches the age of three. Childcare maintenance is generally based on the difference between the mother's income before and after the birth and the father's individual ability to pay. You can obtain advice and support from the child support team.

Jurisdiction depends on the surname of the child. If the child has not yet been born or does not (yet) have a surname, the mother's surname is decisive. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the support services staff. Simply write an e-mail with your request.

You can find a pediatrician in the city under the following link of the Ärztekammer Niedersachsen:

Only pediatricians can assess whether a child's development is actually normal. When the newborn child is discharged from hospital, you will be given a yellow child examination booklet. All examination results are entered in this booklet. The examination booklet must be kept carefully and presented at every check-up at a pediatrician's practice.

For children from birth to the age of 18, 11 preventive check-ups are currently covered by all health insurance companies: U1 to U9 in the yellow screening booklet and J1 outside the booklet (without documentation for the parents). Some health insurance companies offer additional examinations (U10, U11, J2).

From U5 to U8, parents receive a registration card from the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family for the upcoming check-up. This must be brought along to the examination and will be stamped by the pediatrician and forwarded to the state office.

Smoking and passive smoking during pregnancy endangers the unborn child and the mother
On average, smokers not only have to wait longer to become pregnant. Smoking also increases the risk of developmental disorders of the placenta and premature births and miscarriages. Overall, children of smokers are more likely to have respiratory problems after birth and are more likely to develop asthma and allergies.

If women stop smoking before or early during their pregnancy, they can reduce a number of health risks and thus ensure better starting conditions for their baby:

• The risk of miscarriage decreases.
• Premature birth is less likely.
• The child's lungs can develop better.
• The risk of stillbirth decreases.
• The child is less susceptible to infectious diseases or allergic reactions.
• The risk of asthma decreases.
• The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) decreases.

Passive smoking can also be harmful!
What many people don't know: Various harmful substances are more concentrated in sidestream smoke - the smoke that comes out of the front of the smoldering cigarette - than in the mainstream smoke that smokers inhale directly. This is why it is so dangerous for babies to be in rooms where people smoke. This also applies to pregnant women.

Babies who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. As smoke particles and harmful substances are also deposited on furniture, curtains and carpets and are constantly released back into the air, homes and cars should be declared smoke-free zones.

Hookah and e-cigarettes: by no means harmless
Many people see them as a harmless alternative. However, hookahs and vaping e-cigarettes also contain harmful substances. They are not only harmful to your own body, but also to your unborn baby.

Alcohol during pregnancy
Even if it may not always be easy, pregnant women should avoid alcohol completely. As it enters the baby's bloodstream via the umbilical cord, the unborn child always has the same alcohol level as the mother.

As a result of regular and occasional alcohol consumption by expectant mothers, several thousand children are born in Germany every year with the full picture of so-called alcohol embryopathy (fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS) or minor signs of alcohol-related organ damage (FASD). The alcohol-related damage can vary in severity and is fully developed in one in ten of these children. They are often underweight, have growth disorders, reduced intelligence, behavioral problems and other physical and mental impairments, some of which are severe and irreversible.

Drugs during pregnancy
All types of drugs - including so-called soft drugs such as cannabis - can be dangerous for the unborn child. This also applies if they are only consumed occasionally.

All active ingredients in drugs enter the bloodstream of the unborn child via the umbilical cord. However, as the organs and the immune system of unborn children are not yet fully developed, they cannot protect themselves against the toxins that enter. Possible consequences of drug use during pregnancy are developmental delays in the child, malformations and premature births.

Are you pregnant and smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs? You can't manage to stop on your own and have no one to talk to about it?

You probably have a lot of questions and worries that we can discuss together in a counseling session at AWO Salto Suchthilfe. Counseling is free of charge and your issues will be treated confidentially. The staff at AWO Salto Suchthilfe will work with you to find out what help might be suitable for you and support you in taking the next steps.

List of sources:

• Internet pages of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA)
• www.kinderaerzte-im-netz.de
  Website of the Professional Association of Pediatricians and Adolescent Doctors (BVKJ)

Parental leave is a temporary, unpaid break from working life for mothers and fathers that allows them to take care of and raise their children. Employers must give fathers and mothers time off for this period.

Parental allowance can be applied for after the birth of the child. This is a family benefit for parents during the child's first phase of development. The financial support allows parents to take a break or reduce their working hours. There are various forms of parental allowance.

The child has a maintenance claim against the parent liable for maintenance, which depends on the parent's personal and financial circumstances. In principle, there is an entitlement to the so-called minimum maintenance. The assistance department can help with the enforcement of the maintenance claim, see "What is assistance?".

Up to the age of 12 and under certain conditions up to the age of 18, an advance on maintenance is granted.

If you are raising your child alone, you are often faced with a variety of challenges. If the other parent does not pay at least the same amount of maintenance as the maintenance advance to be granted or if you receive less half-orphan's pension, you are usually entitled to maintenance advance payments from the youth welfare office. At the same time, advice and support can be provided by the guardianship team or even a guardianship can be set up.

The parent who is liable to pay maintenance can have the desired maintenance certificate issued by the Children, Youth and Family Department (Youth Welfare Office). An appointment must be made in advance. The team responsible for guardianship is in charge.

Have you had a premature birth? If your child is ill or was born with a disability, our family service is there for you and we can work out together how we can support you.

A baby can really shake up the lives of young parents. Daily routines have to be adjusted and new roles have to be found (who looks after the baby, who earns the money - or maybe both go together?) In Salzgitter, there are various ways for young parents to get support during this challenging time.

We want you to feel good as a mother, father, couple and family! That's why we are there for you and your children right from the start. You can reach us: