Midwives in the Vogelsbergkreis: good care, but challenges remain!

Midwives in the Vogelsbergkreis: good care, but challenges remain!

Alsfeld, Deutschland - In the Vogelsberg district there is currently no acute lack of midwives! Expectant mothers can rely on good care, even if the situation in Germany is tense. In this country, pregnant women have to contact seven midwives on average before finding one. But it looks different in Vogelsberg: every pregnant woman finds a midwife, even if not all services are covered.

Currently, 26 freelance midwives are registered in the Vogelsberg district, which is subjectively considered too little. In order to meet the needs of all young mothers, at least three full-time or six part-time midwives would be necessary. A survey of the district shows that working hours and the number of women supervised vary greatly. But Beate Schupp, an experienced midwife, sees no shortage: "We have many midwives, both freelance and employed." Melanie Marker, a midwife, also confirms that there are many midwives that are ready to help, even if the selection is sometimes limited.

Different offers and networking

The midwives in Vogelsberg often work across the circular. While some regions offer more midwives, there are less in others, which leads to an unequal distribution. Expectant parents should take care of a midwife at an early stage, preferably right after the positive pregnancy test. Early accompaniment by a midwife can lead to a more smooth birth and offers support throughout pregnancy. However, there are restrictions: "As far as I know, we have no midwife that accompanies a home birth," explains Marker.

In order to improve care, the Vogelsberg district plans to strengthen networking between midwives and other specialist groups such as doctors. Innovative projects such as “midwives on site” make it possible to help participate in emergencies in ambulances in order to increase security for mother and child. Five midwives from the circle have already been won for this important project. The Vogelsbergkreis remains active to tackle the challenges in midwife supply and to secure the future of expectant parents.