Where can I birth my baby in Northland?
Choosing where to birth in Northland takes much consideration, weighing up such things as:
- your location (rural or city?)
- distance to hospital to travel in labour or in an emergency if baby or mum need some help
- birth experience in a home or hospital setting (dependent of the health of mum and baby during pregnancy)
- having additional help on hand if baby requires it moments after birth.
With the right family and midwife support and a healthy pregnancy some families plan to birth their baby at home; others choose the intermediate 'birth centre' setting of Kawakawa Maternity or Kaitaia Maternity; while other families prefer the comfort of a hospital setting with the knowledge that pediatric help or obstetric help is on hand immediately for mum or baby if required.
What is certain with pregnancy, birth (and parenting!) is that plans can go out the window and you have to roll with it, which means you are best to prepare for all possibilites. It is important to discuss all scenarios with your midwife, have a clear understanding of when your should go to the hospital or birthing unit in labour, or when they will come out to check and support you if you are birthing at home.
Below are some links to help you undertand more about what maternity services are available in Northland to help you choose where you feel most supported to birth your baby.
Birth place options
Whangarei Maternity
Whangarei Hospital offers secondary maternity facilities which are designed for women and babies who experience complications during pregnancy and labour and may require care from an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician as well as a midwife.
Well women may use these facilities in the absence of other maternity facilities in their area.
Kawakawa / BOI Maternity and Kaitaia Maternity
Kawakawa and Kaitaia Hospital offer primary maternity facilities. They offer a 'birthing centre' environment designed for well women who have no complications during pregnancy. They’re run and staffed by midwives. If further assistance is required in labour, transfer to Whangarei Hospital will be advised, most often by ambulance.
Auckland Hospital
There are no tertiary maternity facilities in Northland. If you have more complex maternity needs which require specialist, multidisciplinary care, or paediatric care for unwell babies or premature babies under thirty two weeks gestation, you’ll generally be referred to a maternity facility in Auckland DHB instead.
Home Birth
Some families who have expreienced a problem free pregnancy, or are expecting their second or more child choose to birth at home with the support of their LMC.
If further assistance is required in labour, transfer to Whangarei Hospital will be advised, most often stopping at either Kawakawa or Kaitaia Hospital en route to be checked, and then taken to Whangarei by ambulance, so it is recommended to consider drive times when deciding to home birth.
These pages list the maternity facilities available in the Northland area.
Where can I birth my baby in Northland?
Maternity facilities in Northland and Far North NZ
