Many midwives have to care for more than three women at the same time

Many midwives in Germany have to take care of several women at the same time. This is the result of two expert reports by the German Bundestag's scientific services. The results confirm the significant staff shortage and high workload in obstetrics.

The midwives associations have been complaining for a long time about a shortage of labor in obstetrics. According to the German Midwives Association (DHV), nearly 2,000 midwives were absent in the clinical area.

Studies from the individual federal states indicate that one midwife has to look after three or more women. However, the medical societies for inpatient obstetrics recommend one-to-one care.

In Saxony, for example, 30 percent of midwives in intensive care had to take care of "more than four women giving birth", according to a survey, according to the report. In Bavaria, only six out of every 100 women had a midwife for themselves and their newborn. To improve the caring key, "simply the midwives were missing," they say. Clinics often take half a year or more to fill vacancies.

Every fourth midwife thinks about giving up the profession

There were complaints about overloading from all the federal states examined. In Baden-Württemberg, seven out of ten midwives reported that their working hours had increased "significantly or very clearly" in the past five years. More than half of the salaried midwives in Saxony said they could not look after women as they saw fit. Every fourth specialist is considering giving up his job.

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The left-wing politician Sabine Zimmermann, who is also chairwoman of the Committee on Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, called the results "frightening". German obstetrics have been underfunded for years. Zimmermann warned of a vicious circle. Midwives were desperately wanted. At the same time, the money is missing for new jobs.

The international comparison shows that there is another way: In Norway, for example, the one-to-one care is legally prescribed and is reached in 60 percent of births. In Switzerland too, the ratio is 1: 1 as standard, although it is no longer always respected there.