Finding a Hebamme in Germany: what she does and how to find one
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In Germany every pregnant woman is entitled to a midwife (Hebamme) during pregnancy, birth and the weeks after, covered by statutory insurance up to twelve weeks after the birth. Midwives are often fully booked, so start early in pregnancy: contact several through hebammenverband.de, ammely.de or the GKV-Spitzenverband list, with your due date, postcode and language.
What a Hebamme does in Germany
In many countries a midwife is someone you meet only in the delivery room. In Germany, a Hebamme can be with you from early pregnancy to the end of breastfeeding. According to the federal health portal, midwives can:
- carry out many prenatal check-ups (not the medical ultrasounds and some special tests), once your doctor has found the pregnancy to be normal, or if the doctor directs them to;
- run birth preparation classes, and often pregnancy yoga, swimming or baby massage;
- attend the birth in hospital, in a birth centre or at home;
- visit you at home after the birth, weigh your baby, check your recovery and help with breastfeeding, nappies and sleep.
In a high-risk pregnancy, all check-ups are carried out by a gynaecologist, but a Hebamme can still look after you after the birth.
What statutory insurance covers
The law gives every insured woman medical and midwife care during pregnancy, the birth and afterwards, including the examinations to confirm the pregnancy and prenatal care (Social Code Book V, section 24d). Midwife care in the postpartum weeks (Wochenbett) is covered up to twelve weeks after the birth; longer care needs a doctor's order. The federal health portal adds that support can continue, if needed, until the end of breastfeeding or until your baby is nine months old, and that extra visits for problems such as breastfeeding difficulties are covered.
Classes covered by statutory insurance, as of October 2026:
| Class | Covered |
|---|---|
| Birth preparation (Geburtsvorbereitungskurs) | 14 hours for the pregnant woman; partners often contribute |
| Postnatal exercise (Rückbildungskurs) with a midwife | 10 hours, if it starts no later than 4 months and ends no later than 9 months after the birth |
If you are privately insured, check your contract for midwife care, classes and home visits.
Why you need to start early
The federal health portal is direct: you may need to contact several midwives, because they are often fully booked for the long periods they care for families, and it is a good idea to begin looking early in pregnancy. If you give birth in hospital, the hospital provides a midwife for the birth; the Hebamme you are looking for now is mainly the one who will visit you at home afterwards.
Where to search
The federal health portal points to three official or established tools:
- Your regional midwifery association's list, through www.hebammenverband.de
- ammely.de, a search engine run with the German Midwifery Association
- The GKV-Spitzenverband's list of all midwives whose services are covered by statutory insurance, on www.gkv-spitzenverband.de
Also ask your gynaecologist, your hospital or birth centre, other parents nearby and your Krankenkasse.
A message you can copy
Write to several midwives at once. Short and clear works best.
Guten Tag, ich bin schwanger, voraussichtlicher Geburtstermin: [Datum]. Ich wohne in [Postleitzahl, Stadtteil]. Ich suche eine Hebamme für die Wochenbettbetreuung, gern auch für Vorsorge und Geburtsvorbereitung. Ich spreche Englisch und etwas Deutsch. Haben Sie noch Kapazität? Vielen Dank! [Name, Telefon]
In English: "Hello, I am pregnant, due date [date]. I live in [postcode, district]. I am looking for a midwife for postpartum care, and if possible prenatal care and birth preparation. I speak English and some German. Do you have capacity? Thank you."
Where you can give birth
The law (section 24f) gives you a choice: an outpatient or inpatient birth in a hospital, a midwife-led or doctor-led facility, a midwife's practice, or at home.
| Place | Good to know (federal health portal) |
|---|---|
| Hospital | Medical care around the clock; some have neonatal units. Most women in Germany give birth in hospital. Outpatient births: home 2 to 6 hours after the birth if all is well |
| Birth centre (Geburtshaus) | Usually midwife-led, for low-risk pregnancies; no epidural or caesarean, transfer to hospital if needed; fees are often covered by insurance |
| Home birth | Only if no risks are foreseen; statutory insurance covers it, the midwife's on-call fee is usually extra; register with a nearby hospital too |
Questions to ask a midwife
- Do you speak English, or can we manage in simple German?
- How many home visits do you usually make in the first days and weeks?
- Do you offer prenatal check-ups or classes, and in which language?
- Who covers for you when you are on holiday?
- How do I reach you in the first days, and when should I call the hospital instead?
For the partner
Partners can send the midwife messages, keep the list of who answered, and book the birth preparation class. Many classes have sessions for couples.
Related guides
Questions parents ask
When should I look for a midwife in Germany?
Early in pregnancy. The federal health portal says midwives are often fully booked and you may need to contact several, so it recommends starting the search early.
Do I have to pay for a Hebamme?
With statutory insurance, midwife care during pregnancy, the birth and the postpartum weeks up to twelve weeks after the birth is covered; further care needs a doctor's order. A midwife's on-call fee for a home birth is usually extra. With private insurance, check your contract.
Do I get a midwife in hospital anyway?
Yes. A hospital provides a midwife for the birth. The Hebamme you look for during pregnancy is mainly the one who visits you at home after the birth.
What if I cannot find a midwife?
Keep contacting midwives in neighbouring areas, ask your gynaecologist, your hospital and your Krankenkasse for help, and ask whether a hospital or birth centre offers postnatal consultations.
Sources
- gesund.bund.de (Federal Ministry of Health) — Preparing for birth checked October 13, 2026
- gesund.bund.de — Prenatal care, check-ups and counseling checked October 13, 2026
- Sozialgesetzbuch V, section 24d — Medical care and midwife care checked October 13, 2026
- Sozialgesetzbuch V, section 24f — Birth (hospital, birth centre, home) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.