03.05.2024
“The work of midwives still doesn’t receive the appreciation it deserves. The situation in maternity care remains tense, affecting both employees and expectant parents – it’s disheartening to lament this year after year and see hardly any change,” explains Bettina Wilhelm, Bremen’s State Women’s Representative, on the occasion of International Midwives Day on May 5th. However, there are also encouraging developments in Bremen, Wilhelm adds: “The midwifery centers in Bremen’s districts are proving to be a success and a pioneering step.”
Skilled worker shortage remains the biggest problem
A shortage of skilled workers is one of the biggest problems in obstetrics, leading to a heavy workload for midwives. According to the state midwives' association, many full-time positions are currently vacant. Anyone wanting midwife support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period should start looking for one as soon as they get their first positive pregnancy test.
"This important and formative time in the lives of parents and newborns coincides with an under-resourced and chronically strained maternity care system. It is thanks to the high ethos and commitment of the midwives, whether self-employed or working in hospitals, that the system has not yet collapsed," said the state women's representative.
Wilhelm stated that no relief is in sight, referring to the upcoming hospital reform and its consequences for clinical obstetrics: "This could further exacerbate the care situation, to the detriment of pregnant women and staff. Pregnant women should be able to freely choose their place of birth. No further capacities should be reduced in obstetrics," said the state women's representative.
Glimmers of hope: Midwifery centers, graduate students, quality seals
The most significant development in Bremen is the establishment of three midwifery centers in Bremen North, West, and East, where freelance midwives provide support and guidance to expectant parents. Further locations in Bremerhaven and Bremen are planned. The concept was jointly developed by the Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection, the State Association of Midwives, the Hans Wendt Foundation, and the ZGF (Central Society for Midwifery).
Bettina Wilhelm: “The centers are a successful model, not only for providing local care to expectant parents, but also for midwives, who find attractive working conditions here.” They offer regulated working hours and reliable coverage for sick leave and vacations. All of this has already persuaded midwives who had left the profession to return. Wilhelm: “Bremen is a nationwide pioneer with this innovative concept. It is proving to be absolutely the right way to improve both the care in the city's neighborhoods and the employment situation for midwives.”
It is also positive to note that this year the first 25 or so graduates of the midwifery program at Bremen University of Applied Sciences will complete their studies. Further cohorts will follow. For midwife-led birthing units – there are currently none in the state of Bremen – the HKS+ quality certificate has recently been introduced, and the first facilities in Germany have already been certified with this certificate. This significantly strengthens the status of midwife-led birthing units in clinical obstetrics.
Since 1990, International Midwives Day has been celebrated annually on May 5th and is organized by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Through events and information sessions, organizations, associations, and representatives from society worldwide highlight the value of midwifery.