A child is on the way. For many parents-to-be, this is the best news in the world - and at the same time a reason to put their finances to the test: Who is going on parental leave and is professionally retiring? How much money will be available monthly in the future? And will it be enough to pay for diapers, pap and, if necessary, moving to a larger apartment?

When it comes to birth, it's not just the parents who do the math. The clinics also keep an eye on costs and income. They receive money from the health insurance companies for the work of the staff in the delivery room, for a caesarean section or a natural birth. How much is regulated in the so-called flat-rate system.

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