How soon should I contact a midwife?

It pays to get in touch as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. We tend to get booked up quickly and this will give you the best chance of being able to book with the midwife of your choice.

Do I have to pay for my maternity care?

Midwives are paid to provide midwifery care by the Ministry of Health.

If you are a NZ citizen or permanent resident, your maternity care is free. You may however need to pay a small fee for your ultrasound scans and prescriptions.

If you are in NZ on a visa your midwife can help you to find out if you are eligible for free antenatal care and, if not, get information for you about the likely costs involved.

What happens if my pregnancy is complicated and I need to see an Obstetrician?

Your midwife will refer to you to an Obstetrician if you have any underlying medical conditions or you develop any complications during your pregnancy. She will still continue to provide midwifery care with you in partnership with the medical team to ensure that you receive all of the care that you need. On occasion, if your pregnancy or labour is complicated, your midwife will work in partnership with the hospital midwives to provide care for you.

What happens if my midwife is busy with another client when I go into labour?

We work in partnerships and provide a 24/7 on call service for births and emergencies. One member of each pair is on call at all times and you will meet your midwife’s partner during

your pregnancy. Of course, unexpected illness can happen and emergency leave can be required at any time so, as a group of six midwives we work together and support one another to ensure that all of our clients have access to an experienced midwife at all times. We also have a network of experienced locum midwives that we can call on if necessary to ensure that we can always guarantee that you will received the highest standard of care from an experienced midwife.

So, I have a positive pregnancy test… What should I do?

Have a look at ‘Our Team’ page and see which midwife appeals to you. It’s great if you can send a text to her to check her availability for your due date. It’s helpful if you can say if this is your first baby and where you live. She will then give you a call to arrange a meeting if she is available, or help you to find an alternative midwife if she is fully booked. If available, she will be happy to meet with you for a ‘no obligation chat’ and can then ‘book you in’ once you have decided which midwife you would like to work with.

Where can I choose to have my baby?

We are incredibly lucky in Waikato to have a choice of birth places. Your midwife will discuss with you the various options and she will ensure that you have the right information to know what is the best option for you. If you have a complicated pregnancy or underlying medical conditions your midwife will discuss what this means for you in terms of you place of birth. Our midwives all have access to work at Waikato Hospital and the local birth units – River Ridge, Waterford and Te Awamutu.

How long does my midwife care for me after the baby is born?

Your midwife will normally discharge you between four and six weeks after the birth. She will offer to refer you to a Well Child Provider who can then support you and provide Well Child Services and check-ups for your child until they start school.