Vienna (OTS) –
International Midwives Day takes place every year on May 5th. Midwives around the world are drawing attention to the importance of midwifery for society and current challenges.
“With the new overall agreement, which has been in force since January 1, 2023, we and the umbrella organization of social insurance providers have set ourselves the goal of achieving more midwifery health insurance offices and thus better care for women and children in the postpartum period. We are now seeing the first positive signs. The supply situation is getting better,” says Gerlinde Feichtlbauer, President of the Austrian Midwives Board, the chamber of all 2,800 midwives in Austria.
“Women and their newborns are leaving the hospital earlier and earlier after birth – which means postpartum care for women and newborns at home is important. Midwife visits during the postpartum period are, for good reason, a social security benefit in Austria that women are entitled to,” says Feichtlbauer.
Midwifery care during the postpartum period is a health insurance benefit
Since January 1, 2023, there has been a new overall contract for out-of-clinic midwifery work between the ÖHG and the umbrella organization of social insurance providers, which pays particular attention to the care of women and children after birth. Higher health insurance tariffs and modern part-time health insurance contracts are intended to improve the care situation for all women in Austria and bring the remuneration of freely practicing midwives closer to the midwife salaries in hospitals.
And the care situation for women and babies after birth has actually improved. The purely mathematical indicator of how many births there are per midwife has improved from an average of 303 in 2022 to currently 211 births per midwife. On the one hand, this has to do with the increasing number of midwives and, on the other hand, with the decreasing number of births.
More midwives, better care for women and babies
Born in 2021 2022: Born in 2024: Midwives
per KV midwife with KV
2022: Midwives born 2023 2024: Midwives born
with KV per KV midwife
B 2.141 6 357 1.975 8 247
K 4.463 21 213 4.201 32 131
NÖ 14,503 63,230 13,484 84,161
Upper Austria 14,797 50 296 13,637 56 244
S 5.453 16 341 5.085 28 182
St 10.691 31 345 10.339 38 272
T 7.428 48 155 6.741 42 161
V 4.009 5 802 3.878 4 970
W 19.142 33 580 17.956 75 239
Austria 82,627 273 303 77,296 367 211
If you have problems displaying the table, you can also use this table here in the press area of the ÖHG website see.
Sources: Statistics Austria. Austrian Midwifery Committee, March 2024.
Gerlinde Feichtlbauer: “The calculations for a health insurance contract assume that a full-time health insurance midwife can look after 180 women and children per year. We are currently still a long way from ensuring that every woman who wants to can find a midwife for postpartum care. But the development of the supply situation is positive.”
The health insurance company pays for up to 13 midwife visits during the postpartum period
In the first few days after the birth, the midwife visits the house every day, then if necessary up to the 8th week or up to the 12th week after a cesarean section, premature birth and in the case of multiple births. The midwife with a health insurance contract charges her services directly to the health insurance company. If you choose a midwife, the woman bears the costs herself and can submit them to the health insurance company. 80 percent of the health insurance tariff will be refunded.
The health insurance midwife currently receives 68 euros for a home visit during the postpartum period. This already includes the so-called structural flat rate of 18.50 euros. Statutory midwives receive this in addition to the statutory health insurance tariff for administration, documentation, etc. Anyone who uses a midwife of choice will receive 80 percent of the statutory health insurance tariff (excluding the structural flat rate) reimbursed.
What does the midwife do during a postpartum visit?
A central task of every midwife’s visit during the postpartum period is to ensure that all changes in mother and child proceed as they should. Many complications can be avoided by recognizing early signs and taking appropriate countermeasures. Preventive measures are an essential part of postpartum care.
- The midwife examines the mother and the newborn to make sure that all processes and changes are going as they should.
- She controls the regression processes in the woman’s body and shows her how she can support them.
- She checks any birth injuries the woman may have and their healing.
- It controls the weekly flow (lochia).
- The midwife helps to distinguish between the normal “baby blues” and postpartum depression, which 15 to 20 percent of all new mothers experience, and refers – if necessary – to competent counseling centers and therapists.
- She advises on breastfeeding and nutrition for the newborn.
- It supports the development of a healthy breastfeeding relationship and helps with breastfeeding problems.
- It controls the development, weight and excretions of the newborn.
- She takes care of the umbilical care and/or instructs it.
- She checks the skin and looks for newborn jaundice.
- She has good tips for baby care.
- She takes blood samples for metabolic screening.
- She carries out prophylaxis (including vitamin K).
Social media campaign for midwifery
Since the beginning of April, the Austrian Midwifery Council has been running a video campaign on social media that provides information about the skills and services of midwives.
Many pregnant women are not sufficiently aware of the postpartum visit by a midwife as a health insurance benefit. The midwife committee presents them in the information campaign and calls on people to find a midwife in good time, including for the period after the birth.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557699763223
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hebammen.at/
YouTube
Women in Austria can seek midwifery help independently at any time, without a doctor’s referral.
Freely practicing midwives can work with a health insurance contract or as a midwife by choice.
Social insurance pays for these midwifery services:
During pregnancy:
- Midwife advice in the mother-child pass, 18th – 22nd week of pregnancy
- 1 home visit or consultation in the midwife’s office, from the 32nd week of pregnancy
- If you are planning a home birth:
8 home visits or consultation hours in the midwife’s office, from the 22nd week of pregnancy (if necessary from the 12th week of pregnancy) - If an outpatient birth is planned:
2 home visits or consultation hours in the midwife’s office, from the 22nd week of pregnancy (if necessary from the 12th week of pregnancy)
Birth:
- Birth in the hospital, home birth, birth in the midwife’s office
In the postpartum period:
- 1 home visit daily from the 1st to the 5th day after birth (or until the 6th day after cesarean section, premature birth, multiple birth)
- 6 or 7 additional home visits or consultation hours in the midwife’s office from the 6th day to the 8th week after the birth if necessary (or up to the 12th week after a cesarean section, premature birth, multiple birth)
- Telephone consultation and telemedical support if necessary
Questions & Contact:
Press contact:
Mag. Ellie Schlint
PR representative of the ÖHG
Tel.: 0699 15050700
Email: elli.schlintl@hebammen.at
Additional Information:
Gerlinde Feichtlbauer, MSc
President of the ÖHG
Tel.: 0650 4018 233
Email: gerlinde.feichtlbauer@hebammen.at
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