I am pregnant - what's next?

Congratulations, you're pregnant! Find out more about the journey and support available in Nelson Marlborough: 

 

1. During your pregnancy, find more information about what developments are occurring for your baby and what scans/testing can be done at the different stages:

Pregnancy weeks 0 - 14 

Pregnancy weeks 14 - 30

Pregnancy week 30 and onwards

2. Find out and plan for what happens as you go into labour and when your baby is born:

Where to give birth

Helpful advice for the birth and afterwards


3. Baby's first stages of life

Baby's first 6 weeks

What is a lead maternity carer (LMC)?

As soon as you know you're pregnant you need to choose a lead maternity carer (LMC).


Most LMCs are midwives, and some GPs and obstetricians are also LMCs.

Women who are eligible for publicly-funded health services receive free maternity care from LMCs in the Nelson Marlborough region.


Your LMC will:

  • monitor your health and the baby’s wellbeing during pregnancy and refer you for free ultrasound scans
  • provide information about choices you can make, for example where to have your baby
  • care for you during labour and birth and for the first 4-6 weeks after your baby is born.

Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and childbirth and can provide all of your maternity care when your pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal period are normal. Our local midwives work in partnership with women and their families in a relationship based on trust, shared decision making and responsibility, negotiation and shared understanding.


Midwives work closely with community organisations such as:


If your midwife is concerned about the wellbeing of you or your baby at any time, she will refer you to an obstetrician at either Nelson or Wairau hospital for advice or medical care. See our Specialist maternity services page for more information about specialist care.

 

How to find a LMC

You don’t need a referral from your GP to book in with a LMC midwife.

 

To find a LMC midwife, please visit: www.findyourmidwife.co.nz

If you are unable to find a midwife or need some advice or assistance please call:

  • Wairau Hospital Maternity Unit on (03) 520 9979
  • Nelson Hospital Maternity Unit on (03) 546 1437
  • Golden Bay midwives on 0800 TAKAMW 

 

What to expect from your LMC

Respectful treatment: Supportive care that respects you, your family and whanau, your culture and beliefs and your informed decisions about tests, recommendations and interventions.

Personal attention: Caring attention to develop a trusting and nurturing relationship with you and your whanau to help you to labour and give birth safely, and to help you, your partner and whānau with the transition to motherhood and parenting.

Plenty of information: About pregnancy, birth and the weeks afterwards, including breastfeeding and care of your baby.

Professional care: Regular and thorough check-ups for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, during labour, and after the birth.

Coping with the pain of labour: Midwives have expertise in labour and birth and will be able to provide you with support and assistance, or consult with specialist doctors, when needed.

Continuity of care throughout the whole experience: Midwives offer care from early pregnancy up to six weeks after the birth of your baby.

 

For more information visit the New Zealand College of Midwives website.

 

Questions to ask your LMC

Ask your LMC about:
  • their qualifications and experience – particularly if you have any risk factors (such as high blood pressure or previous complicated births)
  • (if relevant to you) their experience at home births, systems for dealing with complications and system for obtaining help
  • their arrangements to cover time-off and holidays. You may wish to meet your LMC's locum or back-up midwife.
  • (if your LMC is a GP or obstetrician) who will attend your labour and birth? Who will provide your home visits?

Your options

You can choose to give birth at home, in a primary maternity unit (birthing centre) or in a hospital maternity ward.

Women who give birth at home or in a birthing centre or small maternity unit are more likely to have a normal birth than those who give birth in hospital.

You should discuss the place of birth with your LMC as part of your planning in early pregnancy. Unless you have complications all of these choices are safe.

 

1. Home birth

Home birth is a safe choice for many women.

Women who have home births use less pain relief and have fewer caesarean sections and forceps deliveries than women who give birth in hospital. If you want to know more about this choice talk to your midwife or doctor. You can find out more on the Home Birth Aotearoa website.

At a home birth your midwife will have another midwife there to support you and her during and after the birth. Your midwife will stay with you for at least two hours after the birth.

 

2. Primary maternity units (birthing centres)

In the Nelson Marlborough region you have the choice of a primary maternity unit, or birthing centre.

Women giving birth in these smaller units tend to use less pain relief and have fewer caesarean sections and forceps deliveries than those who give birth in hospital.


Motueka Maternity Unit (Te Whare Whānau)

Te Whare Whānau maternity unit in Motueka is a primary maternity facility that provides quality maternity care in a homely, peaceful environment for labour, birth and postnatal care.

The unit's facilities include:

  • two birthing rooms
  • a birthing pool
  • three individual postnatal rooms with double beds so partners can stay during the postnatal care period.

Women who give birth elsewhere can transfer to Te Whare Whānau after their birth to stay for their postnatal care in the first two days after birth. Women receive full midwifery care and hotel services. Breakfast and dinner meals are also provided free for partners.

Te Whare Whānau provides 24/7 midwifery care for all women staying in the facility. The facility has been independently certified as a maternity hospital by the Ministry of Health and certified as a Baby Friendly hospital which means they meet the highest standards of maternity care in New Zealand.

Te Whare Whānau also provides clinic rooms for antenatal checkups and a free breastfeeding clinic.

Golden Bay Maternity Unit

The Golden Bay Maternity Unit in the Golden Bay Integrated Family Health Centre is a primary birthing and postnatal stay facility.

Women can transfer there from Nelson Hospital's Maternity Unit if they and their baby do not require specialist care.

The maternity unit has one birthing room with a birthing pool and meets national Baby Friendly Standards and Accreditation.

 

3. Hospital maternity wards

Nelson Hospital

The Nelson Hospital Maternity Ward provides a high-quality maternity service for women and their families from the Nelson, Tasman, Golden Bay, Murchison and Pelorus region.

The ward offers a warm, modern environment staffed by our team of friendly and professional core midwives, obstetric and paediatric teams. Support service staff can also provide Māori cultural support, breastfeeding support and quit-smoking support.

Nelson Hospital Maternity Ward has:

  • four antenatal beds
  • four birthing suites
  • a birthing pool room
  • 10 private (not shared) postnatal rooms
  • a private roof-top garden area
  • a dedicated operating theatre nearby (for caesarean sections)
  • anaesthetic services for epidural pain relief during labour

Women may also transfer to Motueka or Golden Bay primary maternity units from Nelson hospital for their postnatal care.

Nelson Hospital has been certified by the Ministry of Health and the maternity ward has been accredited as a Baby Friendly hospital which means it meets the highest standards of maternity care in New Zealand.


Wairau Hospital

The Wairau Hospital Maternity Ward provides antenatal, labour and birth and postnatal inpatient facilities for women from the Marlborough region.

The ward offers a warm, modern environment staffed by our team of friendly and professional core midwives, obstetric and paediatric teams. Support service staff can also provide Māori cultural support, breastfeeding support and quit-smoking support.

The ward has:
  • three birthing rooms
  • a birthing pool room
  • 8 individual antenatal and postnatal  beds
  • a private garden area
  • an operating theatre nearby (for caesarean sections)
  • anaesthetic services for epidural pain relief during labour

Wairau Hospital has been certified by the Ministry of Health and the maternity ward has been accredited as a Baby Friendly hospital which means it meets the highest standards of maternity care in New Zealand. 

 

Take a tour of maternity facilities at Nelson and Wairau (Blenheim) hospitals, and at the Motueka Maternity Unit:
 

Hospital services for secondary care

Your lead maternity carer (LMC) may refer you for an appointment with a specialist such as an obstetrician.

This may be because you have a medical or obstetric history that requires this level of care. Your LMC and specialist may also discuss with you who the most appropriate person is for your clinical care, and with your agreement your care may be transferred to a specialist.

Nelson and Wairau hospital services

Nelson and Wairau hospitals have:

  • specialist obstetricians and paediatricians to provide specialist consultation to women and babies
  • Special Care Baby Units nearby the maternity units, for babies who require additional care after birth
  • specialist clinics for women with medical conditions such as diabetes
  • anaesthetic services for epidural pain relief during labour (available to all women in birthing units at the hospitals)
  • dedicated theatres for caesarean procedures (available to all women in birthing units at the hospitals)
  • Māori cultural support services
  • translation services (for non-English speakers)
  • counselling and mental health support services
  • physiotherapists
  • diabetes nurses.

Tertiary hospital services

Very few women and babies require specialist services provided by larger (tertiary) hospitals. In such cases, women and babies who require intensive care and monitoring during pregnancy and for premature birth are usually transferred to Wellington Hospital.

Nelson Marlborough Health works closely with tertiary maternity services, fetal medicine specialists and neonatal intensive care services at tertiary hospitals.

Nelson Marlborough has the following classes available:

  • Pregnancy to Parenting Antenatal Classes

  • Wānanga Hapūtanga: kaupapa Māori pregnancy and parenting programme - Te Waka Hauora are no longer delivering the Wananga Hapūtanga. We apologise for any inconvenience. We will advertise once a provider is confirmed to deliver a Māori Health Antenatal programme.

  • Motueka Maternity’s Mama Morning (antenatal & postnatal)

  • Nelson Parents Centre antenatal classes

 

Click here to find out more about the classes


I have a new baby – what now?


Once you've given birth, there are some important steps to take:

Breastfeeding is the natural way of providing your baby with the nutrients they need for optimal growth and development.


The Ministry of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding until baby is around six months old.  Following this, breastfeeding is still recommended alongside the appropriate complementary foods until they are at least one year old.

There is specialist breastfeeding support available for wahine Māori through Te Piki Oranga’s Well Child Tamariki Ora service.

Nelson and Wairau hospital maternity units are proud to be part of the international Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. This means that breastfeeding is encouraged and core midwives will advise and support you. However, should you choose not to breastfeed you will be equally supported.

Read more about breastfeeding

 

Breastfeeding support in the Nelson Tasman Region

LA LECHE LEAGUE Monthly Drop In Clinic at Richmond Plunket Rooms

GET HELP - La Leche League New Zealand

 

PLUNKETLINE

Virtual consults and Online Monthly Breastfeeding Café:

Lactation consultant service » Whānau Āwhina Plunket

 

The Well Child Tamariki Ora programme is a series of health visits and support that are free to all families for children from around 6 weeks up to 5 years of age.


It’s important that you join up with Plunket, Te Piki Oranga, or another Well Child Tamariki Ora service as soon as your baby is born, so that they can see your baby when your midwife finishes visiting you.


The free Well Child Tamariki Ora visits cover:

  • child growth and development
  • family health and wellbeing
  • immunisation information
  • oral health (teeth and gum) checks
  • early childhood education
  • vision (sight) and hearing
  • health and development checks for learning well at school.

Your family GP (doctor) can provide free healthcare and advice for you and your baby.

Pharmacists can also offer good, free health advice.

Find a GP in the Marlborough regionFind a GP in the Nelson Tasman region

SmartStart.govt.nz

SmartStart provides step-by-step information and support to help you access the right services for you and your baby. It covers:

  • what you need to do and when you need to do it

  • creating your own ‘to do’ list and helping you keep track of your progress

  • tips on keeping you and your baby healthy and safe

  • ensuring you are not missing out on financial help

  • information on people and services who can help you

  • creating your baby’s own official record.

Visit SmartStart

 

The Well Child App

The free Well Child app helps New Zealand parents create a health record for their child (0-5 years). By entering your child's date of birth, the app uses the device calendar to automatically set reminders for important dates like Well Child checkups and immunisations.

The Well Child app was developed as part of the Maternal and Child Health Integration project.

The Well Child app does not replace the Well Child Tamariki Ora, My Health Book (also known as the Plunket book), but has been designed to sit alongside it. 

Read more about the app here

Nelson Marlborough has the following classes available:

  • Pregnancy to Parenting Antenatal Classes

  • Wānanga Hapūtanga: kaupapa Māori pregnancy and parenting programme

  • Motueka Maternity’s Mama Morning (antenatal & postnatal)

  • Nelson Parents Centre antenatal classes

 

Click here to find out more about the classes