How to Find a Midwife in Germany
- oops parents
- Jun 26
- 8 min read
Welcome to the Oops Parents weekly blog. In this very first post, we are covering one of the most asked-about topics for international parents in Germany: midwives. We will start with the key things that came up in this week's videocast with Jutta Wohlrab, a Berlin-based midwife with over 40 years of experience, and then deep dive into all the practical information you actually need. Enjoy!
Recap from "S1 E2 -Your Midwife in Germany: Everything You Need to Know"
What stayed with us from the episode
Once you find out you’re pregnant and you want to give birth: First confirm your test with a gynecologist. If you don’t have one, search nearby practice on Google Maps, if the chemistry feels right, this will likely be your long-term gynecologist, so proximity matters. Then right after start looking for a midwife.
In Germany, midwives lead - not doctors: A midwife must be present at every birth by law. Doctors only step in for complications. For many of us from countries where doctors run the show, this was a genuine surprise.
Not all midwives do the same thing and your prenatal midwife is not necessarily the one at your birth: There are different types, and knowing the difference changes how and when you search. We go into this in detail below.
Chemistry matters more than you think: Your pre and post natal midwife isn't going to be your friend, but you need to trust her. She will be in your home during some of the most vulnerable moments of your life. If it doesn't feel right, keep looking.
Your partner belongs in the birth prep class: It's not just for you, they need to understand what's happening too for you and the baby's well being.
Becoming a parent and migrating to a new country are two of life's biggest disorienting events and we are doing both at the same time: Find your people. Build your support network.
Resources from this episode:
Jutta runs her own practice and offers birth preparation courses, hypnobirthing, pregnancy yoga, postnatal care, a 12-week coaching program for high-achieving parents and her book, all of which can be found on her website: https://elementsofbirth.de/de/
The search platforms and insurance resources she mentioned in this episode are also listed in the practical guide below.
Your Practical Guide to the Hebamme System in Germany
What does a Hebamme actually do?
In Germany, every pregnant person is legally entitled to midwifery support during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period, all covered by statutory health insurance (GKV). That's the good news. The less good news: being entitled doesn't mean it's easy to find one.
Having a personal Hebamme is not mandatory. If you go into labor without one, the hospital midwife on shift will be with you. But having your own is genuinely valuable, especially postnatally, when she comes to your home, checks on you and the baby, and supports you through those first overwhelming weeks.
So yes, look for one and start earlier than you think (in the first trimester). Contact as many midwives as possible, all at once. Don't wait to hear back from one before messaging the next. Keep a list and follow up. But first, it helps to understand what you're actually looking for:
During pregnancy (prenatal): Your Hebamme visits you at home or at her practice every four to six weeks or more often if needed. She checks blood pressure, urine, baby position, and heartbeat. She can handle all routine prenatal check-ups except ultrasounds (those are done by your gynecologist only). She answers your questions, advises on nutrition and discomforts, and supports you emotionally. She also helps you plan your birth and think through your preferences.
During birth: If she is a Beleghebamme, she accompanies you to the hospital and stays with you through the entire labor. If not, a hospital midwife on shift takes over. At home births and birth centers, your midwife leads the birth completely.
After birth (postnatal / Wochenbett): She visits you at home daily in the first ten days, then regularly up to twelve weeks after birth. She checks your recovery, monitors the baby's weight and jaundice, supports breastfeeding, shows you how to bathe and care for the newborn, and watches for signs of postnatal depression.
Beyond that: Many midwives also offer birth preparation courses, hypnobirthing, pregnancy yoga, acupuncture, postnatal exercise classes (Rückbildungsgymnastik), and trauma support. Not every midwife offers all of these, it depends on her training and focus.
The types of midwives
Knowing the difference matters for how and when you search.
Klinikhebamme (hospital midwife)
On shift at the hospital when you arrive. You won't have met her before and that's completely normal. Fully covered by GKV. Nothing to arrange in advance.
Freiberufliche Hebamme (freelance midwife)
The person most parents mean when they say "my Hebamme." Self-employed, she sees you during pregnancy and returns after birth for postnatal care. She does not attend your hospital birth unless she is also a Beleghebamme. Fully covered by GKV. Your prenatal and postnatal midwives do not have to be the same person depending on availability, you may end up working with two different people.
Beleghebamme (attending midwife)
She has a contract with specific hospitals and accompanies you personally throughout labor, the midwife who already knows you, not whoever is on shift. She typically covers prenatal and postnatal care too, making her the closest thing to one person for everything. She is the hardest to find and books earliest. There is an additional on-call fee (Rufbereitschaft) that GKV does not fully cover, ask your midwife and insurer directly. Start looking in your first trimester.
Hausgeburtshebamme (home birth midwife)
Leads births at home. No doctors on site, low-risk pregnancies only. Spaces fill up fast, so reach out early. Some out-of-pocket costs apply.
Geburtshaushebamme (birth center midwife)
Leads births in a Geburtshaus (birth center). Same conditions as home birth, midwife-led, no doctors on site, low-risk only. Also fills up quickly.
Wochenbetthebamme (postnatal midwife)
Focuses exclusively on postnatal home care. If your prenatal midwife is unavailable for postnatal visits, a Wochenbetthebamme can step in. Fully covered by GKV.
Where to search
hebammensuche.de — the official search directory run by the GKV Spitzenverband. Searchable by postcode, service type, and language.
ammely.de — a platform run in partnership with the German Midwives Association. Available in English and German; also offers online consultations.
midiaid.de — English and German; you can send a free message and register your details so available midwives can contact you.
berliner-hebammenvermittlung.de — Berlin-specific platform run by the Berliner Hebammenverband (Berlin Midwives Association). Search by service type and register your details so midwives can contact you. Berlin residents should start here.
Facebook groups — search "Hebammenvermittlung Berlin" (or your city). Include your due date, neighborhood, and preferred language. Keep reposting if you don't hear back.
Your insurance provider — call them. By law, they must maintain a list of registered midwives and are required to help you access care.
Your gynecologist — ask at your next appointment. Most practices keep a local referral list.
Friends and community — A personal recommendation might be worth more than any platform.
What your insurance covers
If you are on statutory health insurance (GKV), you are entitled to the following at no cost:
Prenatal midwife check-ups and consultations throughout pregnancy
The birth itself, regardless of whether it's at a hospital, birth center, or home
Postnatal home visits: up to 20 visits in the first 10 days after birth, then up to 16 more visits until your baby is 12 weeks old
Birth preparation course (Geburtsvorbereitungskurs) run by a certified midwife, your partner usually has to pay a contribution, though some insurers cover this too
Postnatal exercise classes (Rückbildungsgymnastik): up to 10 hours, to be completed within 9 months of birth
For the birth preparation course: the midwife must be certified and have a contract with your insurance provider for it to be covered. Always confirm before you book.
For a Beleghebamme, home birth, or birth center birth: the on-call fee is not fully covered by most insurers. Ask your insurance what portion they reimburse.
What if I have private health insurance (PKV)?
Many freelancers and self-employed people in Germany end up on private health insurance (PKV) rather than statutory GKV. The good news: PKV plans typically do cover midwife services, prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal check-ups. The less good news: it depends entirely on your specific tariff.
Unlike GKV where coverage is standardized by law, PKV works on individual contracts. Some plans cover everything GKV covers and more, some have caps on midwife visits, session limits, or exclude certain out-of-hospital services. You usually pay upfront and get reimbursed later.
What to do: call your PKV provider as soon as you know you're pregnant, confirm exactly what midwife services are covered, ask about session limits, and ask whether the Beleghebamme on-call fee is partially reimbursable. Don't assume, get it in writing.
One important difference: PKV does not include Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity pay) the way GKV does. If you're self-employed with PKV and have no employer, there is no statutory maternity pay entitlement. Elterngeld (parental allowance after birth) is available to everyone regardless of insurance type, but the income replacement during the Mutterschutz period works differently. This is worth speaking to a tax advisor or insurance broker about before your due date.
Does it differ depending on where you live?
German law guarantees the same midwifery rights to every pregnant person across all 16 federal states. What's covered, who attends your birth, and how the system works is consistent nationwide. What changes from city to city and from city to countryside is availability.
Big cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne): The shortage is most acute here. In Berlin, it's not unusual to contact 20, 30, even more midwives before finding one. English-speaking midwives narrow the pool further. Start by week 8–12, or earlier for a Beleghebamme.
How access to midwifery care differ across different family constellations
If you're a same-sex female couple / two moms
Midwifery care and insurance coverage are identical to any other pregnant person in Germany, no difference. The legal side is more complicated. Marriage equality arrived in 2017, but parental recognition law hasn't caught up. Only the birth mother is automatically a legal parent, regardless of marital status. For finding a midwife experienced with rainbow families, reach out directly and ask, many work with all family constellations.
Want to learn more?
If you're a single mother (with or without fertility treatment)
Your midwifery rights are identical to any other pregnant person, the Hebamme, full coverage, the hospital birth, all of it.
On fertility treatment - donor sperm is legal in Germany and single women can access IUI and IVF using their own eggs. Egg donation is banned for everyone. GKV does not cover fertility treatment costs for single women, so you will pay out of pocket, and some clinics decline to treat single women (!), it may take some searching. If you've been treated abroad and return to Germany while pregnant, you are treated like anyone else in the system from that point onward. Postnatal home visits can be especially valuable if you don't have a partner at home, which makes finding a Hebamme early all the more important.
Want to learn more?
If you're a same-sex male couple / two dads
Surrogacy is prohibited in Germany, so two-dad families typically arrive at parenthood through surrogacy abroad or adoption. The Hebamme system doesn't apply in the same way as there is no pregnant person in your household navigating the search. Once your baby is home, your pediatrician (Kinderarzt) is your primary care contact.
Want to learn more?
Thank you!
Are you in the middle of searching for a Hebamme right now? Drop a comment and tell us what's working and what isn't. And if you know someone who's just found out they're pregnant in Germany, send them this. It's the thing we all wish someone had sent us.
Follow @oopsparents wherever you're listening or watching, and we'll see you in the next one!
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Where this information comes from
This post was put together using personal experience, insights from episode guest, online research and verified offical sources as listed below:
Disclaimer
This post is for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Insurance coverage, legal parental rights, and midwifery availability vary by individual situation, insurer, city, and family type and the rules in Germany do change. For your specific situation, please consult your health insurance provider, a qualified midwife, a family law attorney, or a medical professional. We are a community sharing what we have learned and found by searching, not experts giving official guidance.
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