Midwife-led concepts of care in hospitals exist worldwide in different organizational forms. The thesis on hand examines the new model of midwife-led care in Germany. The purpose of the prospective study was to determine the outcomes of low-risk women and their children in the midwife-led unit compared to the obstetrician-managed delivery unit. The main outcome variables were maternal and neonatal morbidity, mode of delivery, medical interventions, complementary and alternative therapies, postnatal physical symptoms, postnatal wellbeing and breastfeeding. Women's views on the care they experienced during labour and birth relating to choice, control, continuity of care and relationship to caregivers as well as birth experience are assessed. Midwife-led care offers real benefits to low-risk women and their children during labour and birth and an increased likelihood of a physiological birth. Positive effects on the health and wellbeing of women and children are evident.>