Midwife law causes unrest: Neuruppin is fighting for good care!

Midwife law causes unrest: Neuruppin is fighting for good care!

The new federal midwife law has been in force since November 1, 2025, and in Neuruppin it is causing a lot of irritation among midwives. Grit Krüger, an experienced freelance midwife who has been working in this profession for 30 years, even goes so far as to fear that the changes could lead to layoffs among attending midwives. Your concerns are understandable, because the law entails an enormous amount of bureaucratic effort, as Madeleine Blümchen, a midwife since 2008, also notes. She sees the need to acknowledge every consultation in writing in order to receive reimbursement from health insurance companies as a major hurdle.

What becomes particularly problematic is that digital consultations via WhatsApp are not recognized. Only personal contacts or telephone consultations count, which means a step backwards for many midwives. Jacqueline Auditer, also a long-time midwife, expresses her concerns regarding the travel allowance, although she notes that the new regulations should lead to an improvement in the remuneration for care. She works in a 1:1 model and has so far had no problems with the current regulations when caring for two pregnant women at the same time.

Background of the new law

The Midwives Act sets out clear framework conditions for the work of midwives. As in Federal Ministry of Health Midwives monitor the birth process and independently carry out normal births. Doctors are obliged to call in midwives as they can manage the birth independently. They also recognize complications early and act accordingly.

The law aims to improve the quality of care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The midwives' tasks include not only delivery, but also aftercare for mother and child as well as advice on infant care. All of this is done taking into account the individual life situation of the women and their special needs, as set out in the law.

Compensation and prospects

As part of the new law, the remuneration for attending midwives will increase from just under 40 euros to around 85 euros for 1:1 care. The fact that the basic salary for attending midwives is rising from 56 to around 74 euros sheds light on the financial concerns of many midwives. However, Carolin Schiller, the nursing director at the Neuruppin University Hospital, is calm about the changes and does not expect any major impact on the clinic's existing structures. There are currently four attending midwives working in Neuruppin who have a contract with the clinics and whose work reality is influenced by the new regulations.

The uncertainties and challenges brought about by the new midwifery law are also being widely discussed by those affected in the region. While some midwives express concerns about their professional future, others hope the changes will lead to a noticeable improvement in pay and working practices. Whether the law can ultimately achieve the desired effects remains to be seen.