Choosing a Maternity Caregiver

You will need to choose a LMC who is responsible for caring for you through your pregnancy.

You will need to check whether your LMC will provide all of your care during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally, or whether they will refer you to another caregiver for some part of your care.

If you are not happy with your LMC or the services they are prepared to provide, you can change to another at any time. Your LMC or their backup is required to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following Options are available to you:

Independent Midwife as LMC: as the name suggests midwives are specialist nurses trained to care for you during your pregnancy, labour and birth and will help care for you during the first 6 weeks after your delivery. Choosing a midwife can be bewildering as you may be presented with a list of names and telephone numbers to choose from. Sometimes talking to someone who has used their services may be useful in helping you choose a specific midwife.

In summary:

• Provides care for normal pregnancy and birth
• Can provide all your care during pregnancy, labour and birth and after your baby is born.

The services of the abovementioned should be free of charge

General Practitioner care: there are still a few GPs who are registered LMC`s and who will provide full care during pregnancy, labour and birth and for those 6 weeks after the delivery. You family GP will be able to inform you which doctors are still providing this service in your area.

In summary:

• Provides care for normal pregnancy and birth and for some medical problems complicating pregnancy
• Provides pregnancy care at their surgery, attends for part labour and birth with an independent midwife or hospital midwives, and shares postnatal care.

The services of the abovementioned should be free of charge

Hospital team
All your pregnancy, labour and birth care, can be provided at a maternity hospital or a maternity clinic by a

• Midwifery team
• Team of hospital specialists and midwives

The services of the abovementioned should be free of charge

Private obstetrician

Specializes in complications during pregnancy and birth, and can also provide normal maternity care.

Attends for part of labour and birth with an independent midwife or hospital midwives, and shares post-natal care.

Usually all care provided by a private obstetrician involves a cost to the patient

What costs could be incurred during my pregnancy

Maternity care is provided free of charge by midwives and GPs. However, you may be charged for the following:

• A negative pregnancy urine test
• Care provided by a private obstetrician
• Care provided at a private maternity hospital
• If you are not a New Zealand citizen or do not have permanent residency
• Some tests at a private laboratory
• Ultrasound scans
• Childbirth education classes
• Transfer from home to hospital or from one hospital to another in an ambulance

If your caregiver recommends any tests or treatments ask if these are free.

Further Information:

You can find out more about pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting by:

• Talking to friends and family
• Reading books and magazines
• Watching videos on the subject
• Going to childbirth and parenting classes

Visiting the following internet websites:

 

Birthing Options available to you:
You would need to discuss these options with your LMC as part of your care plan:

Possible locations for giving birth include:

Home
Attended by:

• An independent midwife of your choice

Birthing unit/small maternity hospital
Attended by:

• An independent midwife of your choice or
• A GP and hospital midwife or
• A hospital team of midwives

Private maternity hospital / Large maternity hospital
Attended by:

• An independent midwife, or
• An independent midwife and private obstetrician, or
• A GP and hospital midwives, or
• A private obstetrician and hospital midwives, or
• The hospital team

In some areas of New Zealand not all of these options may be available.

If you have chosen to give birth at home, in a birthing unit or a small maternity
hospital and complications occur you will be transferred to a large maternity hospital.

This article is intended to provide general information in summary form only.
The contents do not constitute medical or professional advice and should not be relied on as such.
Specialist medical or professional care and advice should always be sought from your medical or professional adviser for your particular circumstances.