Midwives in Bamberg quit: Red alert for obstetrics!

Midwives in Bamberg quit: Red alert for obstetrics!

Obstetrics in Bamberg is facing a serious challenge: six freelance midwives at the Bamberg Clinic have announced that they will resign from their positions in January 2026. The reason for this worrying step is the new midwifery assistance contract (HBV), which came into force on November 1, 2025. According to [Radio Bamberg](https://www.radio-bamberg.de/amp/natal care-in-bamberg-unter-druck-hebammen-kuendigen-1892025/), this contract leads to a loss of earnings that is hardly bearable for the midwives.

Although the future regulation provides for higher payment rates, midwives will only receive a lower percentage per woman cared for. While the remuneration during the birth is doubled to over 80 euros, there are still concerns about financial stability, as the 1:1 care of four hours around the birth often cannot be implemented in everyday life. Almost half of the midwives in Germany, exactly 44 percent, are considering giving up their profession - a worrying signal for nationwide care, the professional associations warn. This problem is also underlined by the representative associations such as the Bavarian Midwives Association (BHLV) due to the increasingly noticeable uncertainty among attending midwives.

Dissatisfaction with the new regulations

A lack of planning security and increasing bureaucratic effort are putting a strain on freelance midwives. The concerns are not unfounded: According to a survey by the BHLV, around 25 percent of attending midwives already have serious intentions to quit or have even made this decision. A survey result of 68 clinics shows that half of the facilities surveyed are already seeing a direct impact from the new billing regulations.

Elisabeth Hagelstein, an attending midwife at Agatharied Hospital, describes that her team is struggling with great uncertainty. Although there is agreement that obstetric care is well positioned, the new regulations represent a serious challenge. In fact, parent associations and service providers have been calling for fundamental improvements in obstetric care for years, including in the context of the data collected by the BIFG, which indicate insufficient transparency in the outpatient sector.

The pressure on midwives is growing

The increasing number of resignations could mean the end of many midwife positions. Mechthild Hofner, the chairwoman of the BHLV, warns that the midwifery homes are slowly dying and can clearly imagine that there will be serious consequences for the care landscape in 2026. Lisa Dörner, an attending midwife at the Großhadern Clinic in Munich, also expresses concern about the financial losses that the new contract will entail for her and her colleagues. Two of her colleagues have already handed in their resignations.

In this context, the importance of 1:1 support must also be emphasized. GKV spokesman Florian Lanz emphasizes how important this form of support is during birth and how the new midwifery assistance contract aims to secure this practice. However, the doubt remains that there is no adequate remuneration for the honest efforts of midwives when several women have to be cared for at the same time. There is great hope for renegotiations, especially in view of the challenges ahead.

The Bamberg Social Foundation has set itself the goal of ensuring the quality of care in the area of ​​obstetrics. However, it remains to be seen how these efforts will bear fruit in light of current developments and dissatisfaction in the midwifery industry. The situation at the birthing centers in Bamberg and beyond shows once again that action is required here.