FAQ
Geburt 3000 – Shaping sustainable maternity care
What is Geburt 3000?
Geburt 3000 expands out-of-hospital, midwife-led maternity care in Switzerland.
It is a non-profit, tax-exempt foundation established on 21 October 2025. Its purpose is to address structural dimensions of maternity care with the aim of enabling as many women as possible to experience physiologically oriented, midwife-led support in an out-of-hospital setting.
Out-of-hospital midwife-led care should move beyond its longstanding niche position—representing approximately 4% of births over the past three decades—and develop into an accessible, readily available standard option within maternity care.
Why Geburt 3000?
"Geburt 3000" involves an integrative model of maternity care that fundamentally emphasizes the collaboration between a hospital and a birth center. Furthermore, "Geburt 3000" aims to draw attention to autonomous, midwife-led maternity care for as many pregnant women with a low risk profile as possible. Today, many pregnant women are not sufficiently informed about the existence and benefits of birth centers. Education and awareness can play an important role in raising consciousness regarding alternative places of birth.
What is a birth pavilion?
A birth pavilion is an autonomous, midwife-led birth center located directly on hospital grounds. It operates in a strategic alliance with the partner hospital and combines out-of-hospital care with the security of a nearby hospital desired by many women.
Why is a birth pavilion being built?
By placing the birth pavilion with the "Geburt 3000" label in close proximity to the cooperating hospital, the physical accessibility of birth centers is promoted, and the freedom of choice for many women in Switzerland is improved. Currently, there is a lack of out-of-hospital maternity care options close to home, which severely limits the freedom of choice for the women and families concerned.
Where will the first birth pavilion be built?
The first birth pavilion is being built on the Uster Hospital grounds in cooperation with the partner hospital Uster and the Zürcher Oberland Birth Center. The opening is planned for late summer 2027.
How long is the construction period – or when is the first birth pavilion scheduled to open?
Building permit: approx. June 2026
Start of construction: approx. August/September 2026
Opening: August 2027
How is the birth pavilion organized?
The pavilion is operated by a team of midwives who bear full professional, financial, and legal responsibility for the operation of the birth pavilion. The team of midwives works in a close strategic alliance with the partner hospital. Scientific monitoring of the quality of care, measured by health outcomes for mother and child as well as the job satisfaction of midwives, is conducted by a university.
What advantages does the model offer?
- Linking clinical and out-of-hospital care
- Promotion of risk-stratified maternity care
- Developing a shared obstetric philosophy between hospital and out-of-hospital care (through joint concepts, further training, and case reviews).
- Proximity, tranquility, and trust for women and professionals
- Optimized workflows
- Sustainable timber construction and healing architecture
- Regionally and nationally scalable maternity care model
- Promotion of outpatient midwifery care
What are the benefits and impact for those giving birth and their newborns?
Women receive safe, respectful, and self-determined maternity care. Newborns benefit from a secure environment with medical safety provided by the proximity to the hospital.
Is midwifery care in the birth pavilion safe?
Yes, there is extensive evidence that midwife-led maternity care for women with a low risk profile is just as safe as in a hospital. The immediate proximity to a clinic with obstetric, intensive care, and neonatal services guarantees the highest level of safety should an unexpected emergency occur.
What are the total costs of the project?
The total costs for the construction of the first birth pavilion are approximately CHF 2,500,000.
How is the project funded?
The project is funded by contributions from grant-making foundations and private donations. To date, a commitment of CHF 500,000 has been secured.
Why are donations so important? Why are donations needed?
As a newly established foundation, the Geburt 3000 Foundation has limited internal funds. Contributions from grant-making foundations and private donors are necessary for the realization of the pilot project.