What is a midwife-led delivery suite?
The midwife-led delivery suite (Hebammenkreißsaal, HKS) broadens the choices available to women in the hospital setting and at the same time strengthens the role of midwives in obstetrics. It focuses on holistic, individual care during the birth process and raises the overall quality of obstetric care. Studies demonstrate the advantages of an HKS in promoting physiological birth:
- Lower intervention rate (e.g. painkillers, episiotomy)
- Higher rate of vaginal births
- Greater mobility of women in labour and a higher proportion of upright birthing positions
These aspects encourage a positive start to family life!
Contact – midwife-led delivery suite (HKS)
- To request an appointment, please use our online form.
- Appointments and information on the midwife-led delivery suite
- Monday to Friday from 8.30-12.30
- Telephone: 0761 1301-2451 or
- Email: hebammenkreisssaal@diak-fr.de
In the baby gallery you will find some of the babies born at our hospital.
How does the midwife-led delivery suite work?
The midwife-led delivery suite (HKS) is integrated into the structure of the hospital's obstetrics unit and comprises:
- parts of antenatal care,
- the birth,
- if desired, midwife visits in the early postnatal period.
Care in the HKS is provided by the midwives on duty in trusting one-to-one (1:1) care. During the birth, a second midwife provides support.
Should complications arise during pregnancy or birth, should there be an increased need for pain relief, or should a gynaecological assessment be required, a gynaecologist and the anaesthesia team are available at all times.
The HKS thus combines the advantages of midwife-led obstetric care with the safety of a clinical setting.
Giving birth in the midwife-led delivery suite of the Diakoniekrankenhaus
All women who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and have no relevant pre-existing conditions can give birth in the HKS.
- Singleton in cephalic (head-down) presentation
- Duration of pregnancy: 37+0 to 41+3 weeks
-
no previous caesarean birth
In the case of some special circumstances, a decision can be made on a case-by-case basis after medical assessment.
To find out whether the midwife-led delivery suite is right for you, we warmly invite you to our monthly information evening. You can find the dates here.
You can also contact our midwife consultation service by e-mail: hebammenkreisssaal@diak-fr.de
Course of care and birth planning
For a birth in the midwife-led delivery suite (HKS), we offer the following steps:
1. Preliminary telephone consultation to take your medical history (in weeks 28–30 of pregnancy), as soon as the results of the glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are available.
2. A personal appointment: birth planning at the midwives’ clinic (week 36 of pregnancy)
Recommendation: Attending an antenatal class, e.g. at the parent school of the Diakoniekrankenhaus. You can find the parent school’s antenatal classes here.
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