Midwifery help in plain language

Are you pregnant?

Or have you just had a baby?

Then midwives can help you and your child.

For example:

• With questions about pregnancy
• When preparing for the birth
• During the birth
• In the first weeks and months after the birth
• When breastfeeding
• When dealing with the baby

You are covered by statutory insurance.

Then the help doesn't cost any money.

The health insurance fund pays for the midwife's help.

• What does the midwife do?
• What do you need to do?
• Where can you get help?

The midwife helps, for example, before the birth:

• with conversations about worries

During the birth:

• when the baby is born in hospital
• or when the baby is born at home

After the birth:

• feeding and bottle feeding
• changing, bathing and carrying
• pain
• understanding the baby's behavior
• asking questions about the mother's and baby's health

After the birth, the midwife often comes home.

She checks how the mother and baby are doing.

You can contact a midwife directly.

You can choose your midwife yourself.

It is best to register with a midwife early.

You must show your midwife your health insurance card.

The midwife can then invoice the work to your health insurance provider.

Your midwife can help you find a midwife:

• Your gynaecologist
• Your health insurance provider
• Your maternity clinic
• Your friends or acquaintances

Or you can search the internet.

Search for "midwife + place of residence".

Or contact a midwife center in your region.

The websites are:

Hebammennetzwerk Bergisch Land

Hebammenzentrale Bochum

Hebammenzentrale Düsseldorf

Hebammenzentrale Bielefeld/Gütersloh

Hebammennetzwerk Köln

Hebammennetzwerk Münsterland

Hebammenzentrum Rhein-Sieg-Bonn

These websites are not in easy-to-read language.