In Bremen, there's the Bremen/Bremerhaven midwife search tool, which helps you find a suitable midwife. The midwifery centers offer neighborhood-based support for pregnant women, (expectant) parents, and families with babies – ensuring you feel well cared for and supported.
Every pregnancy brings many questions – and often the desire for good support. Midwives support you before, during, and after birth. They take their time, listen, and accompany you and your baby through a special phase of life. But many families quickly realize that finding a midwife isn't always easy. That's why it's worth starting your search early – ideally right after a positive pregnancy test.
What does a midwife actually do?
The beginning is crucial: Midwives support pregnant women and families with a wide range of services. Good to know: Midwifery services are covered by your statutory health insurance. A midwife's key tasks include:
- Prenatal check-ups
- Advice for complaints or questions
- Prenatal classes, postnatal classes
- Postpartum care
- Support with breastfeeding and in everyday life with the baby
How do I find the right midwife?
- You can ask your friends and acquaintances: What did they like about their midwife? What was important to them?
- You can get information from gynecologists, birthing centers and midwife practices in Bremen.
- The midwife search tool for Bremen/Bremerhaven offers an interactive and multilingual search function that makes it easier for you to find a suitable midwife. You can filter your search by languages the midwife should speak (e.g., Kurdish, Italian, or Arabic) or by midwives who offer home births or work in birth centers. Pregnant women and expectant parents can find all current courses offered by midwives in the Bremen Midwives Association (Hebammenlandesverband Bremen e.V.).
What do I do if I can't find a midwife?
Many midwives are booked up well in advance. Therefore, it's worth sending out several inquiries (and, if necessary, declining some). Receiving rejections or having to wait a long time for replies can be frustrating – especially at a time when everything is new and exciting enough. You're not alone. Many families in Bremen are currently experiencing the high demand for midwives. Sometimes it helps to search for specific services, for example, just postpartum care or just a childbirth preparation course. If you live in Bremen West, Bremen North, or Bremen East, you can take advantage of the services offered by the Midwifery Centers. Learn more about the Midwifery Centers in Bremen here.
Family midwives – for support in challenging situations
In cases of particular need, the family midwives from the Bremen Health Department will support you for up to three years after the birth. This service is especially suitable for underage mothers, single parents, and mothers or fathers who are in a difficult situation (e.g., addiction problems, mental health or physical health challenges). The Pro Kind family midwives will accompany you from pregnancy until your child's second birthday if you are expecting your first child, have a low income, and would like support.
If you have questions or concerns, or need support in your search, you can also contact a pregnancy counseling center or early intervention center in Bremen. The Bremen Family Network provides information about services related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the first three years of a child's life – so you can start this new chapter well-supported.
