If I, as a midwife, had Christmas wishes... the greatest gift

Christmas is a time for words of thanks, cards, and small gifts. For me as a midwife, Christmas often means: recognition for work that is done invisibly throughout the year.

If I, as a midwife, had wishes, they wouldn't be miracles, but rather self-evident truths: fair pay, time for every woman, safe obstetric care. Not a luxury, but the foundation – no mere "thank you candles" as a Christmas gift for me as a midwife, please.

Around the holidays, it becomes clear how fragile the structures have become: delivery rooms at their limit, midwives rotating between shifts, many calculating whether they can even afford their profession anymore. A real Christmas gift for a midwife would be: fair contracts, sufficient staff, and security for everyone involved.

Whoever truly wants to give a midwife something for Christmas needs to think bigger than candles or chocolate. Political will, sustainable structures, and respectful working conditions are the most honest gift.

So: Merry Christmas, dear midwife – and please, not just as a feeling. But as an attitude: birth must remain human. Midwifery work must count. Midwives deserve more than just a smile and a thank you.

If you're still looking for a Christmas gift for a midwife, how about a gift that carries a political message?