We are lucky to have maternity care funded by the government, if you're unsure whether it will be free for you due to your personal circumstance please contact me and I can help you figure it out.
It is best to have your first appointment with me at around 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, this gives us enough time to arrange your scans and bloods if you want them. Everyone needs different support through pregnancy but as a general flow I will see you at around 16, 25, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41 weeks. I work alongside the hospital if you have any need for an obstetric doctor during your pregnancy. I can support you to birth at home or at Thames Birthing Unit, if for any reason you need to birth at Waikato hospital then I will help you arrange a midwife for this. Following the birth I will be with you visiting as regular as you need until 4-6 weeks.
What does a midwife do?
If this is your first baby you may wonder what a midwife does, or maybe you have been wondering whether you want midwifery care at all. My "job" is to support you|your whānau throughout pregnancy and that looks a little different for everyone. Generally I visit you regularly and I offer blood pressure checks, urine testing, screening tests like blood tests, I feel the baby's size and position, sometimes recommend extra scans and I share a ton of information with you about this next step in your life. We talk a lot of about how your pregnancy is progressing, how you are feeling about the birth and what having a new baby is like to help you with this amazing but big transition to parenthood. I get the joy of being with you through this amazing time in your life, and you know I am always there for you when you are unsure about it. If things get complicated in your pregnancy then I will help you figure out what's the right decision for you to make. You remain in control, this is your pregnancy and your baby.
Questions? Just flick me a message and we can chat more.