HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Midwives
Midwives provide maternity care for women from early pregnancy until four to six weeks after birth.
How do I find 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.
What qualifications and training do midwives have?
All midwives have a Bachelor of Midwifery degree, 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 two years, with patient feedback contributing to their evaluation.
Use these feedback forms to provide feedback about a midwife.
What do midwives do?
During pregnancy, labour, birth, and up to six weeks after the baby is born, the midwife:
- provides you with regular pregnancy care, including explanations and referrals for blood tests and scans
- monitors the health and wellbeing of you and your growing baby
- refers you to and works closely with other health professionals, such as specialist obstetricians if needed
- cares for you during labour and birth
- provides you with information about pregnancy, labour, and care
- visits your home to help with caring for your new baby and breastfeeding
- provides you with supportive care that reflects you, your family or whānau, your culture, and beliefs.
Where do midwives provide their services?
Midwives work in a variety of settings.
Community midwives provide pregnancy care in a clinic or at your home. Two community midwives attend a home birth. Community midwives are also known as lead maternity carers (LMCs). After your baby is born, a community midwife will visit you at least seven times (including five home visits).
Core midwives work shifts in maternity facilities in hospitals and primary birthing units. They care for you if you need to be in hospital during pregnancy or after birth. When the birth takes place, they work alongside your community midwife.
The West Coast District Health Board primary birthing units are in Greymouth and Westport.
Is treatment funded or do you have to pay?
Midwifery care in New Zealand is funded for New Zealand residents and other eligible women.
Information provided by the Canterbury DHB. Adapted by the West Coast DHB. Page created October 2016.
Review key: HIMDW-262040
