Home birth | At a glance

• Security through 1:1 midwife care in the home environment from the start of care during pregnancy
• Care by a midwife or a team of midwives
• Preparation for the birth with all those involved/present
• Rare medical interventions
• Retreat options in a private environment during labor and in the postpartum period

Costs: approx. € 1900,- to € 2900,-

Partial reimbursement of the health insurance: up to approx. € 1500,-

Midwife services:

Antenatal care, on-call service for up to 5 weeks, care during the birth (depending on the flat rate: birth with two midwives), postnatal care, travel costs, materials

To the midwives who attend home births

... In individual cases, technical interventions are justified ... but as a regular practice, they prevent women from doing what they are capable of: Bringing children into the world healthy without intervention...

Barbara Duden, university professor, medical historian

Frequently asked questions

Are home births safe?

Contrary to what many people believe, home births are a safe option for healthy women. The midwife bears the medical responsibility. Continuous 1:1 care, very conscientious monitoring of the birth process in order to recognize any deviations at an early stage, and a generous transfer to hospital if necessary are additional safety factors. 

What if there are complications?

The midwife bears the responsibility and has the experience: She must assess whether there is a risk and, in an emergency, or if the woman wants to, go to hospital with the family. If a transfer to hospital is necessary, in the vast majority of cases this is done calmly and with foresight. Some births are planned in hospital for medical reasons. This may be necessary due to pre-existing conditions of the mother or developments during pregnancy.

Why do women choose to give birth at home?

Because they can well imagine giving birth at home and the midwife looking after them gives them security and confidence.

Because childbirth is a physiological process that most women can manage without medical intervention if they receive good individual care from a midwife.

Birth without technology, what does that mean? Trust in yourself. A healthy woman can have a healthy child. A spontaneous, physiological birth process cannot be improved (Odent), it can only be disturbed. No machine is on a par with the intelligence of the female body. Giving birth without technology means seeking safety within yourself, not outside yourself, getting to know the powerful possibilities of your own body again and activating them. Technology can be an important aid, but is only very rarely necessary.

Verena Schmid, midwife in Italy