In Germany, midwives (Hebamme) are highly trained practitioners. By law, they must attend every birth. They lead normal deliveries and provide essential postnatal support at home. They also offer clinical prenatal care and handle most routine tasks. They only consult doctors if medical complications arise during pregnancy or labour.
- Legal requirement: A midwife must be present at every birth across Germany by law.
- Antenatal care: Midwives perform routine check-ups and document progress in the maternity passport (Mutterpass).
- Labour management: They manage the birth process independently, prioritising natural physiological birth for patients.
- Postpartum support: Home visits include breastfeeding assistance, wound healing checks, and monitoring newborn weight.
Bookimed Expert Insight: German university hospitals like Charite Berlin and Medical Center in Solingen operate at massive scales. They often deliver over 5,000 babies annually. These high-volume centres integrate midwives into multidisciplinary teams alongside neonatologists. This model of care remains central to the birthing experience, even in academic settings.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Germany find the midwife provides more continuous contact than doctors during uncomplicated pregnancies. They value the practical home visits for feeding support, wound checks, and guidance for first-time parents.