Pregnant women in difficult life situations in Hamburg get more help than a few years ago. However, the baby flaps will not become superfluous.
In Hamburg’s four baby hatches, no children were abandoned in 2022 and 2021. In previous years, according to the social authorities, there was at most one child since 2016. The last time the number was noticeably higher was in 2014 with six children. “From our point of view, the declining numbers can be clearly explained,” authority spokesman Martin Helfrich said at the request of the German news agency. For eight years in Germany there has been the possibility of giving birth through the so-called confidential birth.
The corresponding law came into force on 1 May 2014. “This ensures a medically accompanied birth and the child has the opportunity to obtain information about its origin from its 16th birthday onwards,” explained Helfrich. Anonymous filing in a baby hatch poses a problem, because children have a right to know where they come from. “If no information is known about the origin, it can be a heavy burden for the child’s further development.”
More help for pregnant women in difficult life situations
More than 22 years ago, the Hamburg Sternipark association founded the first baby gate in Germany. “Indeed, no newborns have been delivered to Hamburg’s children’s gates since 2020,” the Sternipark management said on request. “The situation is different in the other federal states. This already shows that the offer is not superfluous.” An Asklepios spokesperson also stressed regarding the baby brood at the Wandsbek clinic that despite the low numbers, it was important to continue to offer mothers this alternative.
According to Sternipark, the drop is smaller due to the possibility of reserved birth. This was said to be more due to positive social changes in Germany. “Overall, we have become a more child-friendly country.” Parenthood and work could be better combined. “In Hamburg, for example, there is a very wide range of daycare centers available from the end of maternity leave.”
Social Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) emphasized: “Pregnant women in difficult life situations receive the necessary help in Hamburg through an extensive family and juvenile care system that has been significantly improved over the past ten years.” In this way we want to avoid from the beginning that a situation arises in which the mothers find themselves overwhelmed by the child. “Even during pregnancy, for example, the youth welfare office can help find good solutions to possible problems and organize support.”
