International Midwives Day: Four medical facilities - one goal: making births even safer

As experts in all medical and psychosocial aspects associated with pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, midwives play a central role in the healthcare of women, newborns and families. The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that well-trained midwives significantly reduce the mortality rate of mothers and newborns. In a joint project, the medical faculties of the Universities of Dresden, Vienna, Brno and Maribor University Hospital want to better prepare midwives and medical staff for rare complications.

In Germany, postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive pregnancy disorders and embolisms are among the main causes of serious maternal emergencies. What all situations have in common is that they occur rarely to extremely rarely, but in an emergency every second counts and every move must be made.

The two-day interprofessional training course "ROUTINE" developed by the four institutions - Faculty of Medicine of TU Dresden, Medical University of Vienna, Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University Brno and the University Hospital Maribor - focuses entirely on such emergencies in obstetrics. It is designed to help midwives and doctors to master critical situations with confidence.

Participants train not only their medical expertise, but also their ability to communicate clearly, make quick decisions and work in a team. To this end, typical but rare emergencies are recreated in realistic simulations with actors and models. These include severe bleeding after birth, a sudden seizure (eclampsia), complications with the baby's shoulder development or even life-threatening events such as a pulmonary embolism. Even scenarios such as resuscitation of the mother with an emergency caesarean section are practised in the facilities' skills labs.

The training is supplemented by practical exercise stations, for example on neonatal resuscitation, delivery from a supine position or safe airway management. Participants can prepare for the course with the help of digital learning modules so that the training time together can be used optimally.

About "ROUTINE"

The "ROUTINE" project is funded by the European Erasmus+ program and runs from November 1, 2024 to December 30, 2026. It brings together expertise from different European countries to further strengthen the quality of obstetrics. The development of a standardized training curriculum ensures equivalent, high-quality training for healthcare professionals across Europe and integrates different team roles and responsibilities. By incorporating different healthcare systems and cultural perspectives, ROUTINE creates realistic, adaptable and inclusive training materials.

Events in Dresden

August 24 - 25, 2026 & September 21 - 22, 2026
1st and 2nd training course test run with interested midwives, doctors of gynecology and obstetrics, anesthesiologists and nurses (neonatology, gynecology, anesthesia)

Project partners

• Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden
• Medical University of Vienna
• University Hospital Maribor

Contact:
Dr. rer. medic. Katharina Langton
Program Coordination / Academic Program Director
Center for Midwifery Science (ZHW)
+49 (0) 351 458 10417

Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit Public Relations Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine
of the TUD Dresden University of Technology
+49 (0) 351 458 17903