Reference Resource
Your Hebamme
Everything an English-speaking family in Germany needs to understand about midwifery care: who does what, what is covered, how to find one, and what to do when the system falls short.
10 min read · Last updated June 2026 · Written and reviewed by Emma, Birth & Mother
Start here
Looking for a midwife now?
Begin as early as you can, ideally the week of your positive test, since midwives book up fast across Germany, and in cities like Berlin and Potsdam especially. Ammely, the national directory, lets you search by postcode (it is in German). Then walk the step-by-step below, including what to do if no one has space.
01
What is a Hebamme?
Your midwife (Hebamme) is deeply trained: since 2020, through a Bachelor's degree with long clinical placements. In the German system, your midwife can carry out all of your routine prenatal check-ups except the ultrasound scans and certain fine diagnostic tests, which your gynaecologist performs, so how your prenatal care is shaped is genuinely your choice.
In Germany, a midwife has to be at every birth by law. A doctor is optional; your midwife is not. That single rule is part of why birth here feels different from many other countries: the person holding the space at your birth is a midwife, whether you meet them in advance or not. They are also the one who comes to your home through the postpartum weeks, looking after both you and the baby.
At a glance
- · A qualified midwife, trained to a degree level
- · Present at every birth by law
- · With you through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum (Wochenbett)
- · Paid for by your insurance, so there is no bill at the end
02
The types of Hebamme
“Hebamme” is an umbrella term. Which type you work with depends on where you plan to give birth and whether you want continuity of care. The descriptions below reflect what I have observed working alongside midwives and the families I support; specifics vary by practice and region, and your midwife is the right person to confirm what their own work involves.
Vorsorgehebamme
Prenatal care only
A freelance midwife who shares your antenatal check-ups with your gynaecologist. They do not attend your birth. Often easier to find than a continuity-of-care birth midwife.
Stationshebamme
Hospital midwife on shift
Part of the hospital rota. Cares for you during labour. In a busy ward they may be looking after more than one woman at a time, and you will usually not have met them before.
Beleghebamme
Contracted to a specific hospital
Holds a contract with one hospital and provides one-to-one care during your birth there. You usually meet them late in pregnancy.
Begleithebamme
Your midwife through pregnancy and birth
A freelance midwife who provides continuity: they know you, and they come to hospital with you for the birth. The most sought-after and hardest to find.
Hausgeburtshebamme
Home birth specialist
An independent midwife who attends births at home. Provides prenatal, birth, and postnatal care as a full package.
Geburtshaushebamme
Birth centre midwife
Works out of a birth house (midwife-led birth centre). Care is continuous through pregnancy, the birth itself, and the postpartum.
Nachsorgehebamme
Postpartum only
A midwife who visits you at home after birth. Covers weighing, feeding, recovery checks, and maternal wellbeing for up to 12 weeks.
03
What care is covered
Duringpregnancy
- All of your routine antenatal check-ups, if you wish. a midwife can do everything except the ultrasound scans and certain fine diagnostic tests, which your gynaecologist performs, so the shape of your prenatal care is your choice
- Blood pressure, urine, and fundal height checks, all documented in your Mutterpass
- Listening to the baby's heartbeat
- Birth preparation classes (Geburtsvorbereitungskurs), often in groups
- Guidance on nutrition, movement, and common pregnancy concerns
During labourand birth
- Clinical monitoring of mother and baby
- Assessing labour progress (dilation, contractions, position)
- Performing or assisting the delivery
- Immediate newborn checks and support for the first feed
In the postpartum(Wochenbett)
- Daily home visits for the first 10 days
- Up to 16 further visits in the next 8 weeks
- Additional visits for breastfeeding support (up to 8)
Entitlement counts reflect the GKV-Spitzenverband Hebammenvergütungsvereinbarung. Verified April 2026; current terms may differ. Confirm with your midwife or health insurance (Krankenkasse).
For what those visits actually look and feel like, what your midwife typically does and does not cover, and how to build postpartum support alongside them, see Your midwife in this window in the Wochenbett guide.
04
What your health insurance pays for
Under German statutory health insurance, midwifery care is fully covered. You do not pay your midwife directly; they bill your insurer.
The one detail to flag, because it is midwife-specific: an on-call fee (Rufbereitschaftspauschale) charged by some hospital-contracted and continuity-of-care midwives, typically between €250 and €800. This is not covered by all health insurers, though an increasing number now reimburse part of it. Ask your midwife and your insurer directly.
For the wider picture (statutory versus private insurance, what is and is not covered across the maternity system as a whole), see Krankenkasse coverage in the German Maternity System guide.
05
How to find a midwife
Start as early as possible. Across Germany midwives book up fast, and in cities like Berlin and Potsdam many are fully booked within days of a positive pregnancy test. A step-by-step approach:
- 01
Confirm your pregnancy and request your Mutterpass
You receive the Mutterpass at your first confirmed pregnancy appointment, usually from the gynaecologist, though a midwife can issue it too. Bring it to every midwife contact from then on.
- 02
Search the directories
Use the national directories first, Ammely and Hebammensuche (hebammenverband.de). Many regions also keep a local list, like the Hebammenliste Berlin. Filter by postcode and by the type of care you want (prenatal, birth, postpartum).
- 03
Contact many, expect few replies
Plan on contacting 15 to 30 midwives. Most will be fully booked. A short, friendly message in German (or English with a one-line German opening) improves the response rate.
- 04
Ask your gynaecologist and your health insurance
Both can recommend midwives with availability. Some health insurers operate their own midwife matching service (Hebammenvermittlung).
- 05
Register with your chosen hospital early
If you plan a hospital birth, the registration appointment (Anmeldegespräch) happens around weeks 30 to 34. The hospital may also have hospital-contracted midwives you can contact.
- 06
Keep a record
Track who you have contacted, when, and the outcome. This avoids accidental re-contacts and helps if you need to escalate to your health insurance for support.
06
Questions to ask at first contact
Once you have a midwife who may have availability, a short, structured conversation helps both of you decide if it is a good fit.
- —What kind of care do you offer (prenatal, birth, postpartum, or all three)?
- —Do you have availability around my due date?
- —How many other clients will you be supporting around that time?
- —Which hospitals do you work with, or do you attend home births?
- —Do you speak any English, and how comfortable are you working through an interpreter or doula if needed?
- —How do I reach you outside of appointment times?
- —Is there an on-call fee, and if so, how much?
- —What does your postpartum care look like: how many visits, and for how long?
07
What to do if you can't find one
The midwife shortage in Germany is real. If you have exhausted the directories and still have no one, you have options and you have rights.
Contact yourhealth insurance
Several health insurers (TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK among others) run a midwife matching service. They cannot guarantee a midwife, but they can sometimes match you with one who has just had a cancellation. Request this in writing; it creates a record.
Find your regionalHebammenzentrale
Many regions run a Hebammenzentrale or Hebammenvermittlung, a coordinated midwife matching service with a central waiting list that prioritises by due date. In my area, for instance, the Hebammenzentrale Berlin-Brandenburg covers the whole region. Search for the one that serves your city.
Build the rest of yoursupport team
A doula cannot perform the clinical checks a midwife provides, but she can offer continuous emotional and practical support, help you prepare for appointments, and connect you with lactation consultants and paediatricians to cover the medical side.
Know yourlegal entitlement
Statutory health insurance in Germany entitles you to midwifery care. If you have been unable to find one despite genuine effort, document it: this strengthens any case for alternative coverage (for example, of a privately arranged midwife).
08
Your rights
As someone insured in Germany, you have a legal right to midwifery care in pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period (§24d, §24f SGB V; verified April 2026, current law applies). You do not need a doctor's referral to see a midwife.
You have the right to choose your midwife freely, to decline one who is not a good fit, and to change midwives during pregnancy if you need to.
You have the right to informed consent for every clinical decision. Your midwife should explain what they are doing, why, and what the alternatives are, in a language you can understand. If they cannot, you have the right to request interpretation support.
09
Key German Vocabulary
Personal support
If you would like company through this
Your midwife works alongside your gynaecologist through pregnancy and visits you at home through the postpartum, fully covered by your health insurance, so finding them early makes a real difference. If you would like English-speaking help with the search, preparing for your first appointment, or understanding what midwife care does and does not include, get in touch.
Your journey through the guides
- The System
- Your Hebammeyou are here
- Where to Birth
- Birth Changes Course
- Step by Step
- The Wochenbett
- The First Year
Go deeper
Further reading
For Emma's personal take on midwifery care and the wider picture of support around birth, these essays go deeper into the human experience behind the facts on this page.