Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I see you during my pregnancy and postnatal period?

I follow the NICE Guidelines for Antenatal care. You can learn more about this at www.NICE.org.uk. NICE guidelines tell us how often we should see women for antenatal appointments. If this is your first baby, you will have around 3 extra appointments compared to those who have already given birth. The schedule is as follows:

ALL WOMEN

Booking Appointment: Between 06 -11 weeks.
First Trimester Routine Appointment: Between 11+2 - 14+1 weeks.
Second Trimester Routine Appointment: Between 14+2 -18 weeks
Anomaly/Anatomy Scan Appointment: Between 18 - 20+6 weeks
Diabetes screening Appointment: Between 26- 28 weeks
Third Trimester Routine Appointment: 34 weeks
Birth Plan Appointment: 36 weeks
Third Trimester Routine Appointment: 38 weeks
Post-dates Appointment (if not given birth): 41 weeks

FIRST BABY

If this is your first baby you will also be offered extra appointments around 25, 31 and 40 weeks. This is because first time parents may require extra education and support.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you have any complicating factors in your pregnancy, you may need to be seen more frequently and seen by a multi-disciplinary team that includes LMC, Radiographers, Specialist Midwives and Obstetricians . Your individual care will be discussed with you throughout your pregnancy.

Postnatal visits

During the first six weeks of your postnatal period, you will be seen by me a minimum of 7 times. Usually this is 3 times in the first 10 days and then weekly thereafter until discharge. Your visits may take place in hospital or at your home. I will see you more frequently if indicated.

Is there a cost for my midwifery care?

Midwifery care is free for eligible persons. If you were born outside of NZ and do not hold NZ Citizenship or permanent residency or have a working visa/spousal visa valid for 3 years, then you may need to enquire with the Ministry of Health as to your eligibility for care. Please do not be offended if you are asked to provide evidence of eligibility at your booking appointment. Ultrasound scans and GP appointments are partially funded for eligible persons but there is a co-payment required. There is no free or subsidised dental care in New Zealand. Specialist care through hospitals remains free for eligible persons.

If you require pregnancy care and are not eligible then payment must be discussed and agreed before care commences. You will not be charged more than what the Ministry of Health pays midwives for care of eligible persons. Hospital and specialist care will be charged separately by Te Whata Ora. Scans, blood tests and GP appointments will not be subsidised.

What happens at midwifery appointments?

Your booking appointment is where you complete your registration with midwife for LMC services. If not born in NZ we will need to see evidence of your right to maternity services e.g. residence permit, work visa, etc. If not already done so, I will recommend first antenatal blood and urine tests, a dating scan may also offered. We will discuss options for care and informed choice. I will advise of recommended tests in pregnancy and your medical and obstetric history will be taken. You will have your blood pressure taken and weight/BMI recorded. A urinalysis is offered, and a mental health & emotional wellbeing check undertaken.

At your routine appointments we will continue with regular checks of Blood Pressure, weight, urinalysis, mental health and well-being support. From 14 weeks we will listen with a doppler to fetal heart rate and from 27 weeks begin to plot your fundal height measurements on a customised GROW chart. Each appointment is confidential and non-judgmental. It is your safe space to bring any concerns into discussion. At 20 weeks you will be offered an anomaly scan and between 26 -28 weeks you will be offered further recommended blood tests and diabetes in pregnancy screening.

What choices do I have? What is informed consent?

You have full choice to consent or decline any procedure. Your choices will be documented in your clinical notes. Informed consent means that any recommended procedures will be explained to you before you choose to have or not have the procedure. It allows you to ask questions and understand risks and benefits before making any decisions. Its intention is to empower you to make educated and informed decisions about your healthcare.

How do you work time off?

In our practice, we work 12 days out of 14, taking every second weekend off. This schedule enables us to maintain a healthy work-life balance, ensuring we are well-rested and able to provide you with the best care possible. Our weekends off are covered by our dedicated practice partner, who is familiar with our clients' needs and can provide seamless continuity of care. When it comes to annual leave, we carefully plan our time off around periods when we do not have any women due. This ensures that you will always have a midwife available during your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period. We value open communication and transparency, and we will inform all our clients well in advance of any planned time off for annual leave. This way, you will have ample notice and arrangements can be made to ensure uninterrupted care. Rest assured that regardless of which midwife you are working with from our practice, you can trust that you will receive consistent, compassionate, and comprehensive care throughout your journey. You can learn more about the other midwives in our practice by visiting the Weiti Midwives website

Can I change midwife, if I am not happy?

Absolutely. The New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) Statement on cultural competence clearly states that a midwifery partnership is the relationship between a woman and her midwife during the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. The relationship is built on respect, trust and acknowledgement of the equality of both partners and the reciprocal nature of their relationship. If for whatever reason you feel that our partnership is not the right fit for you, you can change midwife at any point.

Can a midwife end my care with them?

Sometimes circumstances in a midwives personal or professional life may change and it may not be possible to continue caring for a client. Additionally, in the same spirit of partnership, if a midwife feels that a client and herself cannot reach mutual and respectful agreement on their care, a midwife can decline to continue care for a client. While these instances are rare, in cases where I might become unavailable to continue your midwifery care, I would discuss this with you and ensure alternative and appropriate care is in place before ceasing care.