Hey-Mum

Logo

Frequently asked questions and answers

A maternal care giver supports pregnant women and mothers who have recently given birth. A maternal care giver has specialist knowledge of pregnancy, the puerperium and the first year of a child's life. She supports the mother as needed by listening and talking, relaxing massages, cooking breastfeeding-friendly food and taking care of the household. In addition, she advises on breastfeeding issues, gives advice on how to handle the infant and also deals with siblings in order to give the mother some me-time. In addition, she can provide support in filling out applications related to the new family situation. The time after the delivery - the puerperium - places special demands on every mother, physically and emotionally. This time should be a quiet and safe space, a time in which she is looked after and cared for, "mothered". With good support, stress, i.e. through excessive demands or stress, can be avoided, in this challenging phase of life. This way, the mother, her child and the family can have a stable and healthy start into life.

Sometimes pregnancy, childbirth or the first time with the baby don't go the way you always imagined or dreamed of. Perhaps there were complications or injuries during the birth that limit or affect you emotionally. Perhaps an unplanned caesarean section will leave temporary trauma. Then we will be happy to listen to you, advise you or look for various specialists who can give you professional advice. Hey Mum - we are with you!
As your maternal care giver, we come to you and your family and discuss how we can support you. This can be support in handling the newborn, a relaxation massage, instructions for postnatal exercises specifically for the puerperium, relief in taking care of siblings, that you have time for yourself and the new baby, cooking a healthy meal for you and the family, running errands, accompanying you to doctor's appointments, and, and, and. We can arrange everything individually. Feel free to contact, we will find out together, how we can help you.

As your doula, we accompany you on the exciting path to giving birth and support you during delivery. After we got to know each other well and discussed and documented your wishes during your pregnancy. We are on „on-call service“ 10 days to and 10 days after the calculated delivery date. We will come and see you immediately and will accompany you in your chosen hospital - or birth center as soon as the birth begins. At all time we will be on your side to calm you down through conversations, massage tension, breathe with you, guide your partner and make sure to follow your wishes and express them to the clinic staff. We do not take on any medical tasks, this task is reserved for the supervising midwife! If you wish we will visit you and your child again in the hospital after the delivery. Finally, if necessary, we will meet again after about 1-2 weeks to talk about the birth and the first time with the new family member.

The midwife takes over the medical care of the mother and the newborn in the puerperium. Her time for home visits is usually limited. As maternal care giver, we do not carry out any medical activities or make any diagnoses. We cannot and do not want to replace the work of a midwife, but we can supplement it in a meaningful way and ideally look after the family together. As maternal care giver, we stay with you and your family for several hours a day, we can implement the midwife's instructions and recommendations with you and also take on other tasks. If you haven't found an midwife, we can accompany you to visit a midwife's practice. As maternal care giver, we want your puerperium to be a wonderful time in which you and the aby get to know each other and that you have someone by your side with whom you can discuss and share all your questions, thoughts and worries.

The maternity care giver training usually takes 12 months and can be completed in Germany with various providers in different cities. We chose to train with Dr. med. G. Weckmann (wochenpflege.de). Kirsten successfully completed her training in August 2020 and Nele's training ends in March 2021. Through participation in special modules, internships and elaborations, training as a maternal care giver includes training as a doula and is also certified accordingly.

The following content was included in the training and certified:

  • Pregnancy
  • Birth
    • Managing contractions positively
    • Massage techniques
    • Pain relief
    • Psychosocial support
  • Rebozo and other relaxation massages
  • Postnatal processes and physical aspects of the puerperium
  • Psychosocial aspects of the puerperium
  • First aid on the child
  • Infant health
    • Promote healthy development of the newborn
    • Bonding
    • Skin care
    • Infections in infancy
    • Common health issues
  • Infant care
  • Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
  • Kinesthetic Infant Handling
  • Carrying techniques
  • Healthy sleeping

In addition to the theoretical content of the training, observations and internships in delivery rooms, postpartum wards or in a midwife practice should be verified. If you have any questions about the training of a maternal care giver and doula, please contact us.

Our Hey-Mum-Package costs 1000€ (including VAT) plus travel costs. It includes 1 introductory talk, a visit in the hospital if requested and 8 days of postpartum care of 2 hours. We can arrange every package individually – feel free to contact, us!

Of course, we will also accompany you if your baby is older or if you need support during pregnancy. The costs depend on the number of hours booked.

The costs of a maternity care giver usually have to be paid privately. Under certain conditions, the costs of a maternity care giver can be paid by your health insurance.

Our Doula-Package costs 1000€ (including VAT) plus travel costs. It includes 2 introductory talks, on-call service 10 days before to 10 days after the calculated delivery date, continuous birth accompaniment and a follow-up talk.

The costs of a doula are usually not covered by the health insurance.

The services of a maternal care giver can be fully or partially covered by the health insurance. Therefore an application for "Household care" must be filed. In addition, the health insurance company requires a medical prescription from the doctor (gynecologist or family doctor) or the midwife stating the number of hours required.
In the following you can find the legal basis of the Social Security Code:

§24 SGBV (Household care with pregnancy and/or childbirth) No additional payment
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__24h.html

§38 SGB V (Household care in case of Illness) Additional payment required
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__38.html

Both paragraphs assume that there is no person living in the household who can continue the household. (Attention: partner's vacation or parental leave!)

I.e. an application for household care looks like this at BKK mobil oil:
https://www.bkk-mobil-oil.de/meine-mobil/formulare-und-antraege.html

Cost sharing for private insurance depends on the conditions of the insurance.

If the application is rejected by the health insurance company and the resulting objection is also rejected, the service must be paid privately.

The time after the birth - the puerperium - is physically and emotionally an exceptional situation for the mother and the whole family. Everything is new. A natural state of exhaustion is the norm. For many, the new requirements are overwhelming, even though this first time is infinitely important for bonding with the child. This time should be a quiet and sheltered space, a time when the mother is looked after and mother and child can get to know each other. Later complications such as breastfeeding problems, depression, attachment disorders or other health problems can be prevented with the support of a maternal care giver in this challenging phase of life. This enables the mother, her child and the whole family to have a stable and healthy start in life.