Midwife Services

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Our medical centres  provide essential, holistic care to women and their families throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period. The midwifery model of care is a cornerstone of the public health system, offering continuity of care to all eligible people, free of charge.

Lead Maternity Carer (LMC)

When you become pregnant, you choose a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) to coordinate all your maternity care. A midwife is the most common choice for an LMC, but you can also choose a GP who provides obstetric care or an obstetrician.

Completely Free Service

​For those eligible for publicly funded healthcare (which includes most NZ residents and citizens), the services of a registered midwife are free. This covers all antenatal checks, labour and birth care, and postnatal visits at home.

Continuity of Care

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Midwife provides care throughout the entire journey. They are on call for you when you go into labour and will be your primary caregiver during birth, whether it happens at a hospital, a primary birthing unit, or at home.

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Scope of Care

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• Antenatal Care: Regular check-ups, monitoring the health of you and your baby, ordering scans and blood tests, and providing education and preparation for birth and parenting.

• Labour and Birth: Your midwife supports you through labour and delivers your baby. They are trained to manage normal births and identify situations where specialist obstetric help is needed.

• Postnatal Care: For up to six weeks after the birth, your midwife will visit you at home to check on your recovery, your baby's health, assist with breastfeeding, and provide support until you are discharged to the care of a Well Child Tamariki Ora provider (like Plunket).