Dream Job Midwife – Interview with LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi Rasche

Sissi Rasche has already assisted with around 450 births and has given birth to two children herself with the support of a midwife. She is therefore a true expert when it comes to the midwifery profession. On the occasion of International Midwife Day, she shared with us in an interview, among other things, what her daily work looks like and how you can find the right midwife for you.

1. You work as a freelance midwife. What does your daily routine look like – or does something like that not exist in your profession at all?

Sissi: I do not have my own practice, but visit all my women at home – during pregnancy and postpartum. I have three days a week with "short days," during which I pick up my own children from kindergarten after work. Twice a week, however, I work until the evening to meet with pregnant women who don't have time during the day because of their jobs. I provide obstetric care on a one-to-one basis and can therefore be called to a birth at any time. That’s why the days cannot be scheduled so precisely. It can also happen that I am called due to a water break or the onset of regular contractions and have to cancel another appointment at short notice. My women are aware of this, because it’s basically Murphy’s Law with a midwife. :) Since I do home visits, fortunately, no one has to wait for me somewhere outside.

2. What has been the most beautiful experience you've had as a midwife so far?

Sissi: During my midwifery training, I had an externship, an internship in home birth care, with the wonderful midwife Ulrike Aulbach in Hamburg. There, I experienced my first home birth. And that was the most formative experience for me: for the first time, I saw a birth without intervention. The woman gave birth to her child through her own strength! In midwifery training, it is rather the norm for women to give birth in a hospital. After this home birth, I knew I wanted to work the same way: in one-to-one care – without shift work and time pressure – which allows me to truly get to know each woman and adapt to her. It is a luxury for me to be able to accompany my women during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

3. If you could change something about the professional profile: what would it be?

Sissi: I wouldn't actually change anything about the professional profile. However, what I would like to change is midwifery care in Germany. I am shocked by the direction it is taking: more and more women are receiving very poor care because there is no nationwide midwife placement service, and in hospitals, there is often too little time for support due to the workload. Additionally, the profession is underpaid for the work that midwives perform daily.

4. Are there any prejudices against midwives that you would like to clear up? If so, which ones?

Sissi: In the minds of many people, midwives are generally old and outdated. Until a few years ago, it was still common for some pregnant women to be quite surprised when a young, modern woman came to meet them. However, midwives can be very different, and there is a suitable midwife for every woman. :)

5. You have two children yourself. Have the birth experiences changed your view of your work as a midwife?

Sissi: Of course, my own birth experiences with my children have changed me as a midwife. It was simply wonderful to be able to have a midwife myself for once. And I have a very, very wonderful midwife who accompanied me wonderfully during both home births. I am very grateful for that. Personal birth experience definitely influences my work. Many women appreciate that I have two children myself and have been "on the other side" before. However, in my opinion, having children doesn't actually say anything about how good you are as a midwife.

6. How did it come about that you develop baby products with LILLYDOO?

Sissi: From my daily life as a midwife, I of course know exactly what matters when it comes to the Baby care arrives. Additives such as perfumes, parabens, or PEG-emulsifiers are not included. For a long time, we had to choose between effectiveness and Skin friendliness decide. That really bothered me! When LILLYDOO's founders Sven and Gerald approached me and asked if I wanted to contribute my knowledge to the development of the products, I immediately said yes. It’s great fun to support LILLYDOO with advice and hands-on help, and I think it’s fantastic that I can now recommend products to my women that I am completely convinced of.

7. What do you recommend to expectant parents:

… Wann sollte man sich um eine Hebamme kümmern?

Sissi: In the current situation: with a positive pregnancy test! Of course, many would prefer to wait for the first three months, but the Search for a suitable midwife may take some time. In case of a Miscarriage should occur, the health insurance companies will still cover the midwife care. Because such a difficult time does not have to be endured alone.

… Worauf sollte man bei der Wahl der Hebamme achten?

Sissi: So that you can find the right midwife at all, the first step is to consider what type of midwifery care and birth you want: one-on-one care? Home birth? If your best friend has already had a baby, I would first ask her for a good midwife. Maybe someone else in your circle of friends and acquaintances also has a good tip. This type of search is often the best. Otherwise, there are also midwife lists on the internet, and you can inquire at hospitals or midwifery practices. If you have found a midwife and are meeting her for the first time, it is important to listen to your gut: does the chemistry between you feel right? Be honest with yourself and the midwife, and if in doubt, meet a second midwife. You are about to face a very intensive time, and it is important that you feel well cared for. When you meet a midwife for the initial consultation, you can ask all the questions that are on your heart: How does the midwife envision the care? What does the care look like during pregnancy and in the Postpartum from? etc.

8. What would you advise others based on your experience who also want to become a midwife:

… Welche Eigenschaften sollte man mitbringen, um eine gute Hebamme zu werden?

Sissi: As a midwife, you need a lot of empathy. The ability to quickly adapt to new situations is also important. Additionally, you should be patient – especially in obstetrics, where perseverance and plenty of time are required. Resilience is also an important trait, because you have to manage with little sleep and cope with irregular daily routines, long nights in hospitals, and on-call duties. I personally handle this quite well, but many find it really difficult. Reliability plays a major role, because even if it’s sometimes annoying: you must always be reachable and therefore bring a good dose of flexibility. And last but not least, of course, you need to enjoy working with women and children.

… Wie läuft die Ausbildung zur Hebamme ab?

Sissi: There are several midwifery schools in Germany where you can complete a three-year vocational training. These schools are always affiliated with hospitals. The profession of midwife can now also be studied – there are currently several bachelor's degree programs – but I believe that midwifery is a craft, and you need a lot of practical experience. Therefore, it is worth doing many internships, preferably with experienced midwives who can pass on their entire knowledge. This is also important to ensure that the old, traditional midwifery knowledge is not lost.

9. Finally: What is your conclusion about the profession of midwifery?

Sissi: Being a midwife is a very, very wonderful profession that offers a lot of variety. No day and no birth is like the other. Additionally, you are part of one of the greatest miracles in this world: the birth of a little human! It is always a marvelous experience every time. Therefore, my conclusion is clear: I love my job and would still choose to become a midwife again today. By the way, LILLYDOO midwife Sissi also shares her best tricks and tips on our YouTube Channel continue. There she shows you among other things how you can the perfect diaper size finds and what at a wounded baby bump Provides a remedy!