Your midwife will support and care for you during your labour and will help deliver your baby / pēpi. Labour & birth information on the National Women's Health website. You may also find it useful to view the Labour & Birthing Suite Virtual Tour and read some of our leaflets. Things to bring to hospital Pain Relief Options in Childbirth Auckland City Hospital Map There is additional information on the National Women's Health website www.nwhealthinfo.co.nz

Your midwife will provide pregnancy care including regular checkups, organising any tests as required and planning your labour plan. Pregnancy care is free for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents. For more information view the New Zealand Government website. Pregnancy Testing The National Women's Walk-in Centre can provide a pregnancy confirmation service as well as your own GP. Information about the Walk-in Centre can be found on the National Women's Health website https://nationalwomenshealth.adhb.govt.nz/our-services/maternity/pregnancy-care/walk-in-centre-and-community-clinic/ Pregnancy Check-ups and Tests First trimester (0 - 14 weeks): Check ups are once a month if all is well with your pregnancy. First trimester screening: Screening can provide some information about the chance of your baby having Down syndrome or another condition. This test requires a blood test and the 12 week ultrasound (see below) Ultrasound: At approximately 12 weeks you have the option of an ultrasound scan. There may be costs associated with this. Please consult your midwife. A blood test will usually be organised at or after your first appointment. Your midwife will discuss and advise you on this. Second trimester (15 - 28 weeks): Checks ups are once a month if all is well with your pregnancy. Ultrasound: At 18 to 22 weeks you have the option of an ultrasound scan; there may be costs associated with this. Please consult your midwife. Polycose Test: Between 24-28 weeks it is recommended that you do a polycose test. This blood test is to screen for gestational diabetes. This test is free and carried out at a Diagnostic Medlab. Other blood tests are also usually carried out during the second trimester at the same time as your polycose test. Your midwife will discuss and advise you on this. Third trimester (29 - 40 weeks): Weeks 29-35: Checkups are once every two weeks if you are in your first pregnancy and monthly with your second or subsequent pregnancy if all is well. Weeks 36-40: Checkups are once a week for your first pregnancy and fortnightly with your second or subsequent pregnancy. Additional tests during pregnancy: Consult your midwife if you wish to discuss these: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) Amniocentesis Maternal Serum Screening Development of Your Care/Birth Plans The LMC is responsible for organising your maternity care. They may provide all your care or share the care with one other, or more, practitioners. They also provide information to assist with decision-making during pregnancy, preparation of the birth and for parenting. Topics will include nutrition, exercise, the risks of smoking and alcohol, labour and the birth process, pain relief, breastfeeding, baby care, immunisation, community services, contraception and many more. It is important that you have a 24 hour contact number for your LMC and that back-up arrangements have been discussed with you in case your LMC is unavailable at any stage. If you choose a community midwife at National Women's, she will only be available during the day but you will be given the delivery unit phone number to contact if you are in labour or concerned about anything regarding your pregnancy which cannot wait until your midwife returns the next day.

Your stay at a birthing centre or hospital after giving birth will usually be up to 2 days, or 2-5 days if you have had a caesarean. During this time you will have regular visits from your midwife and be supported to care and feed your baby. Approximately 4-6 hours after the birth of your baby, if both mother and baby are well, you will be transferred to Birthcare Auckland. Please remember to bring a car seat for your car, to transport your baby safely. Your care will be continued at Birthcare, where you will be able to rest and become proficient with breastfeeding your baby. If you or your baby need further care or you have had a caesarean birth, you will be transferred to one of the maternity wards. At times the wards are very busy and the staff may request that if all is well with you both, you transfer to Birthcare Auckland for the remainder of your stay to free up the ward for those who need the beds more urgently.

Your midwife will provide weekly home visits from after you give birth to when your baby / pēpi is 4-6 weeks old. Your midwife will provide support, assist with breastfeeding and monitor your baby’s growth and development. A midwife will visit you at home 5-10 times, until 4-6 weeks after baby has been born. This includes one home visit within 24 hours of being discharged from a maternity facility. You will usually receive approximately two visits in the first week, but more frequent visits if you have gone home straight away, after the birth to check on you and your baby's progress and to assist with any breastfeeding challenges. Discharge from the care of the midwife can be any time from 4 to 6 weeks postnatally and she will pass on your care to a Well Child provider of your choice. Your midwife will discuss this with you.

Your midwife will help connect you with a Well Child/Tamariki Ora service once your baby / pēpi is 6 weeks old. Well Child/Tamariki Ora services provide free health checks for your tamariki from 6 weeks old to 5 years. It is also important to register your baby with a local GP for ongoing medical care and to organise immunisations. All babies born in New Zealand are registered with the National Immunisation Register. You can check for Well Child Providers on the following website http://www.wellchild.org.nz/ and in the Well Child Provider leaflet