In 1997, the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe did not yet have obstetric services. But six independent, courageous midwives were firmly convinced that a safe, holistic form of maternity care was needed there—and they had a clear concept of how they wanted to shape it. With this vision, they jointly advocated for a new form of childbirth care. Their shared understanding of an anthroposophical view of the human being was, from the very beginning, the unifying heart of the project.

Within just one year, a dedicated extension was built for the obstetrics department, where not only the first children were born, but also ideas that would sustainably develop the department. Human birth was understood as a process that follows natural courses and is supported through strengthening the parent–child bond, safe spaces, and an inner attitude of reverence for the incarnation of a new life. From the outset, it was clear that parents and child in Havelhöhe are seen as a unit and find protection and support in their bonding process.

To many, this approach may seem self-evident today. In the past, however, mother and child were often separated after birth, and companions had only limited access. It took courage to establish such a different, holistic form of maternity care in Berlin in 1998. All the more wonderful it is to see how “Giving Birth in Security” has developed over the past 28 years. Since the opening of the obstetrics department on January 15, 1998, more than 30,000 children had been born here by January 15, 2026.

The close, equal collaboration among all professional groups and the appreciation of each individual’s strengths remain, to this day, the foundation of how we work together. Bonding, development, and breastfeeding are at the center of our work—both on the parent–child unit and in the obstetrics department.

Our strength grows with every experience: the number of births rose from 390 in 1998 to 1,418 in 2021, which made it possible to add more family rooms. To meet the needs of expectant parents, we have continuously expanded our services: childbirth preparation, pregnancy counseling, post-birth debriefings, postpartum home visits by midwives, specialized anthroposophical therapies during pregnancy, labor support, and the postpartum period, as well as physician-led consultations.

The close interdisciplinary collaboration, developed over many years, makes it possible to take personal needs into account, ensure medical safety, and convey a sense of security. In this way, we support families with special needs—such as breech presentations (BEL) or twins—and develop specialized expertise that is recognized throughout Germany.

Many Berlin hospitals refer pregnant women with breech presentations to us who wish to give birth vaginally. Our accumulated experience and multidisciplinary team expertise make us a leading center for spontaneous breech births.

We follow the WHO recommendation to reduce cesarean rates and, in particular, not to subject first-time mothers to unnecessary cesarean sections, in order to avoid pain, bonding difficulties, disruptions to the microbiome, higher staffing requirements, and costs. Supporting families on this path means a personal and societal gain in health. The gain is not financial profit, but nourishment for the soul for everyone involved. Despite externally imposed challenges, all professionals work with great dedication, often unconventionally, to make this possible—supported by a community that is consciously aware of the joy of wholeness.

From an anthroposophical perspective, we respectfully honor the decision of the child and its parents and accompany them with confidence and professionalism. The essence of our work is strengthening loving bonds and relationships from the very beginning. Because how a child is born does matter.