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HealthInfo Piki Te Ora Southern

Midwives

Kaiwhakawhānau

Midwives provide maternity care for women from early pregnancy until 4 to 6 weeks after birth. More than 90% of women in New Zealand have a midwife as their lead maternity carer (LMC).

Midwives work in a variety of settings.

There are 4 primary birthing units operating in Otago in addition to Dunedin Hospital, which provides the full range of primary, secondary and tertiary maternity services for the Otago area.

There are 4 primary birthing units operating in Southland in addition to Southland Hospital Maternity Service which provides both primary and secondary maternity services.

What midwives do

During pregnancy, labour, birth and up to 6 weeks after your pēpi is born, your midwife:

Finding a midwife

Find Your Midwife is an online database of members of the New Zealand College of Midwives. It lists profiles that include availability and contact details.

Qualifications and training

All midwives have a Bachelor of Midwifery degree. This is followed by mentoring from a senior midwife in their first year of practice. Midwives also undertake continuing education every year to maintain their practising certificates.

Practising midwives register with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand, which regulates the sector. They can also join the New Zealand College of Midwives, which sets professional standards.

Midwives are reviewed every 2 years, with patient feedback contributing to their evaluation.

Use these feedback forms to provide feedback about a midwife.

Cost of seeing a midwife

Midwifery care in New Zealand is funded for New Zealand residents and other eligible women.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2024.

Sources

Page reference: 579819

Review key: HIMDW-262040