Mother pass

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

The maternity card is a document that you should always carry with you during the entire pregnancy. It not only records your personal medical history, which is important for the pregnancy. There you will find all the important data and test results about the course of your pregnancy. This means that the doctor has all the important information at hand quickly in an emergency. Find out more about the mother's pass here!

The mother pass - when is it available?

The maternity record is a valuable companion for the entire pregnancy. Your doctor will therefore give you the 16-page booklet as soon as he has determined that you are pregnant. The stamp of the doctor's practice or the supervising midwife is on the first page. The dates for the individual examinations are entered underneath so that you don't miss any.

Your name, date of birth and address are shown on the top left of the second page. This is followed by the sections in which all examinations that are planned for the pregnancy are entered and for other important information.

Mutterpass: Explanations in detail

Pages two and three in the maternity record are intended for the various blood tests (serological tests). The rest is reserved primarily for the preventive medical check-ups.

Mutterpass - page 2: blood group, rhesus factor and antibodies

First the blood group of the pregnant woman is entered. It is important when blood products have to be administered.

It is also noted whether the woman's red blood cells have the so-called Rhesus factor on their surface. If the blood of the mother and the unborn child differ in this respect - more precisely: if the mother is rhesus negative, but the child is rhesus positive - this can be dangerous for the offspring (rhesus intolerance).

The serological examinations also contain the result of the antibody search test in the maternity record. This is used to search for antibodies in the blood against factors from other blood groups, as these could harm the child.

Another point in the maternity record is the rubella HAH test. It is used to check whether you have antibodies against the rubella virus - either because you have already had the rubella or have been vaccinated against it (twice). If no rubella antibodies are found (a rubella IgG test of 10-15 IU / ml is considered protection), you are advised to move away from places where there is a risk of infection (such as kindergarten, school, public transport) in the first twelve weeks of your pregnancy ) to keep away. Because a rubella infection can lead to severe deformities in the child, especially in the first few months of pregnancy.

Maternity pass - page 3: Infections

On page three, for example, the doctor will write down whether the urine test showed you were infected with chlamydia. This increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, inflammation of the lungs, eyes or urinary organs and must therefore be treated with antibiotics.

In addition, the LSR test is on page 3 of the mother's passport. "LSR" is the abbreviation for syphilis search reaction. Lues (or syphilis) is a sexually transmitted disease that occurs very rarely. However, if infected, it can cause serious complications for both mother and child, so this test is done routinely. However, only when the test was carried out is entered in the mother's passport, but not its result.

The result of the HIV test (AIDS virus) is also not entered in the maternity record, only its implementation. The test is recommended for all pregnant women, but is voluntary. It may only be carried out after a consultation and with the consent of the pregnant woman.

The detection of HBs antigen, which indicates a hepatitis B infection in you, is carried out in the 32nd week of pregnancy. If you are infected with the pathogens causing liver inflammation, your child will be vaccinated as soon as it is born.

A test for toxoplasmosis is only carried out if there is justified suspicion, as an initial infection during pregnancy can damage the child's eyes and brain.

A B strep infection during pregnancy can spread to the child - with serious consequences. The current guideline recommends testing for this bacterial infection in the 36th week of pregnancy.

A control test for so-called irregular antibodies is carried out on all pregnant women in the 24th to 27th week of pregnancy, which is also entered on page three.

Maternity pass - page 4: Previous pregnancies

Under “Information on previous pregnancies” on page four, all previous pregnancies (course, possible complications) as well as any caesarean sections, suction cup and forceps births are entered. Miscarriages and premature births as well as losses and ectopic pregnancies are noted. The gender of children already born, their height and weight at birth are also noted.

If necessary, the doctor will note further blood tests in the "Special features" section.

Mutterpass - Page 5: General information and first preventive examinations

On page five, your doctor will write down everything that was discussed during the first medical check-up or that still needs to be clarified. There is a questionnaire here with which your medical history is recorded (anamnesis). For example, any allergies and previous or current illnesses (such as diabetes, obesity) are noted here. The doctor will also discuss previous pregnancies as well as social and psychological stresses with you.

He will also advise you on various topics such as nutrition, exercise, travel, pregnancy exercises and cancer screening.

Mutterpass - page 6: Findings and due date

On page six of the maternity record, the doctor notes special findings in the course of the pregnancy. These include, for example, current general illnesses, drug and tobacco consumption as well as pregnancy-specific complications and peculiarities such as gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancy and premature labor. This information will help the doctor to classify your pregnancy as a risk pregnancy.

The expected due date is also entered on this page in the maternity record.

Mutterpass - Pages 7 and 8: The Gravidogram

The gravidogram is a diagram in which the results of the various preventive examinations are entered - i.e. a clear representation of the course of the pregnancy in the maternity record. Abbreviations such as SFA or QF are confusing at first, but they are quickly explained:

The abbreviation SFA stands for "symphysis-fundus distance" (SFA) and indicates the position of the upper edge of the uterus. This moves higher and higher in the course of pregnancy. The information is given in "cross fingers" (QF). Today this examination is largely replaced by the more precise ultrasound examination.

The position of the baby is entered in the “Child position” column - usually only in the second half of pregnancy: SL stands for skull position and BEL stands for breech position. In addition, the child's heartbeat and child's movements are noted.

Your own state of health is also recorded in the gravidogram. With the item "Edema, Varicosis", a + or a - is noted as to whether you have been diagnosed with water retention or varicose veins during preventive examinations.

The result of regular blood pressure measurements is entered under the abbreviation “RR”. Both low and high blood pressure can put you and your child at risk and may require treatment.

Your weight gain can be tracked using the entries in the “Weight” column. If you put on excess weight it could be dangerous for you and your child.

"Hb (Ery)" provides information about the hemoglobin level (blood pigment) in your blood and thus shows the oxygen transport capacity of the red blood cells. If the value falls below 10.5 grams per deciliter (g / dl), there is anemia. The doctor will then prescribe an iron supplement for you.

Under “Sediment, possibly bacteriological. Bef. ”, The measured values ​​for protein, sugar, nitrite and blood in the urine are entered in the maternity card. Protein in the urine can indicate high blood pressure. Small amounts of sugar in the urine are normal. If the measured values ​​are higher, a glucose stress test can be used to determine whether you have developed gestational diabetes. Nitrite in the urine can be a sign of a bacterial infection that needs treatment. Blood in the urine is normal in most cases during pregnancy. You should only see a urologist if the result is repeatedly positive.

The doctor can enter any tactile findings under "Vaginal examination". For example, the abbreviation “MM Ø” means that the cervix is ​​still closed. Behind "cervix o.B." hides the hint that the uterine canal is "without findings" (ie preserved).

"Risk no. according to catalog B “is a column in which special findings that have arisen during your pregnancy are entered. Your doctor can note examinations, findings, therapies and comments in the “Miscellaneous” column.

Mutterpass - Page 9: Special features and heartbeat-labor recorder

Page nine in the maternity card is reserved for findings (such as an amniotic fluid test), illnesses or hospital stays during pregnancy.

In the “Cardiotocographical Findings” section, the results of the heart sound labor recorder (cardiotocograph or CTG) are noted.

Mutterpass - Pages 10, 11, 12 and 14: Ultrasound examinations

The doctor enters the results of the three regular ultrasound examinations of your unborn child on pages ten and eleven of the maternity record. If more than three of these tests have been done, the results are noted on pages 12 and 14 with possible comments from your doctor.

Mutterpass - Page 13: Standard curves for the growth of the fetus

On page 13 in the maternity record you will find a standard curve for fetal growth. The growth of your child is recorded in it: For this purpose, the body length, head and stomach diameter of your child are measured during each ultrasound examination. This is how the growth development can be tracked.

Mutterpass - Pages 15 and 16: Final examinations

On the last two pages in the maternity record, the most important data about your pregnancy are noted again, for example the number of preventive medical check-ups and whether you have had previous pregnancies and deliveries.

Information about the birth of your child is also provided here. For example, the course of the birth and the result of your child's Apgar test are noted. In this test, breathing, pulse, muscle tension, skin color and the ability to trigger reflexes are checked immediately after birth.

At the end, information about the puerperium is recorded in the maternity record. Any complications are noted, for example. The doctor will examine you again six to eight weeks after the delivery. He enters the result of the examination on page 16 in the maternity record.

Maternity pass: it makes sense to keep it!

You should keep the maternity record in a safe place - not only for yourself as a reminder of the pregnancy and birth, but also as a valuable source of information for your doctor in the event of a further pregnancy.

Tags:  medicinal herbal home remedies skin interview