Maternity Care in NZ

Once you suspect or know you are pregnant you would be advised to see your family doctor (GP) who will confirm your pregnancy for you, advise you on early pregnancy health issues and will possibly send off some early blood tests.

You will then be advised as to what your options are and how to choose a LMC (Lead Maternity Caregiver) who will look after you during your pregnancy, childbirth and for the first 6weeks after the birth.

It should be noted though that the first health professional you see in your pregnancy if this is not your GP will also provide you with information regarding the options you have for LMC`s and place of birth.

In NZ care during pregnancy can be provided by:

An independent midwife at your home or their clinic

• A GP at their surgery
• A private obstetrician at their rooms
• A hospital team at a hospital or a community clinic
• Combinations of above could also be looked at. . If you want a doctor and a midwife to jointly provide care, you and your caregivers must decide how your maternity care will be shared between your caregivers. This must be written into your care plan.

Care Plan

Your LMC is required to help you to write up a care plan. This plan enables you to document the choices you have made as well as the decisions made regarding the following:

• Who you have chosen to provide the various parts of your care
• Your chosen place and method of birth
• What tests and procedures you have agreed to for you and your baby during your pregnancy, labour and birth and following the birth
• And any other items of importance you choose to have documented so that there is a clear understanding of expectations and procedures

Tests during pregnancy

During your pregnancy visits the following routine checks are usually done:

• Urine testing
• Blood pressure checks
• Weight checks
• Listening to your baby's heart beat
• Checking your baby's growth
• Blood tests are recommended two or three times during pregnancy

Further more detailed testing could include:

• Ultrasound scans
• Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and polycose testing where diabetes is suspected
• Maternal serum screening
• Genetic screening tests could include chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis

Choosing a Lead Maternity Caregiver (LMC)

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. You're 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.