Having a baby is a huge life transition. Having a baby in a foreign country — while trying to navigate a complicated bureaucracy in a language that isn't your own — can add a whole other layer of overwhelm.

In this episode of Expecting Expats, we talk with Marijke, co-founder of Elterngeld Help, about one of the less glamorous realities of expat family life in Germany: paperwork.

From figuring out whether you're eligible for Elterngeld to understanding the difference between Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus, there is a lot to understand — and many international parents don't realise just how much planning can affect the benefits they receive.

Marijke shares her own experience of becoming a parent in Germany as a Dutch-British expat, including navigating the system as a self-employed, privately insured parent. Her experience of trying to understand a 23-page Elterngeld application eventually inspired her and her husband to create Elterngeld Help, a tool designed to make the process more accessible for international families.

In this episode, we talk about:

• ​Why German bureaucracy can feel particularly overwhelming for international parents
• ​The emotional and mental load of navigating paperwork during the postpartum period
• ​What Elterngeld is and who may be eligible
• ​The differences between Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus
• ​How working part-time can affect your Elterngeld
• ​Why self-employed parents need to understand how their income is calculated
• ​How having another child can affect your Elterngeld calculation
• ​Why it's important to understand your eligibility rather than assuming you don't qualify
• ​How visa status can affect Elterngeld eligibility
• ​Why some families wait months before receiving their first payment
• ​The importance of planning ahead if you're self-employed or considering having another baby
• ​Additional considerations for families with premature babies, twins, triplets or children with disabilities
• ​And why asking for support isn't a sign that you're failing — especially when you're navigating parenthood abroad

About Elterngeld Help:

Marijke runs Elterngeld Help, an English-language service for parents applying for Elterngeld in Germany. Free eligibility check, calculator and month planner. If you'd rather not fight the 23-page German form yourself, they'll go through your situation on a call and send back your complete, filled-in application within 48 hours. You sign it and send it off.

Expecting Expats listeners get €30 off that service, €149 instead of €179, with code EXPECTING30.

👉 Find out more: elterngeldhelp.com

More from Amanda & CJ

🌍 CJ — Worlds Apart Counseling

CJ is a couples therapist who works with expat and international couples, helping partners navigate the unique challenges that can come with building a relationship and family across cultures.

👉 Worlds Apart Counseling

🌿 Amanda — Mindful Mama Frankfurt

Amanda is a childbirth educator and doula offering childbirth education and support for international families in Frankfurt, with classes available in English.

👉 Mindful Mama Frankfurt

Podcasts we recommend 🎧

As always, we ended the episode by sharing what we've been listening to lately.

Marijke recommends: 🎧 Child — a BBC/Channel 4 podcast she listened to during pregnancy. She found it informative and reassuring, particularly because it helped her understand what was happening in her body throughout pregnancy.

Amanda recommends:🎧 The Mel Robbins Podcast — Amanda has been listening to Mel Robbins again and particularly enjoyed a recent episode featuring an orthopaedic surgeon and longevity specialist, discussing ways women can support their long-term health and strength as they age.

CJ recommends:🎧 Real Survival Stories — CJ has been listening to this podcast before falling asleep and particularly recommends the episode “Saved by a Humpback Whale,” a fascinating and touching story about a researcher who has an extraordinary encounter with a humpback whale.