What is Obstetrics/Maternity?
Obstetrics/Maternity is the area of health concerned with the care of women during pregnancy (antenatal), labour and birth, and the 6 weeks after childbirth (postnatal).
Once pregnancy has been confirmed, regular antenatal checks should be performed by a midwife, GP or obstetrician (doctor who is specialised in obstetrics). In the first 28 weeks, these checks are every 4 to 6 weeks but will increase as the pregnancy progresses.
Maternity Services Provided by Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB)
Counties Manukau DHB maternity services are located at Middlemore Hospital, Botany Downs Maternity Unit, Papakura Maternity Unit, and Pukekohe Maternity Unit.
Primary Maternity Services - for women with low risk (normal) pregnancies. Primary maternity services are offered in the community at clinics and the three community maternity units in Pukekohe, Papakura and Botany Downs. Birthing for low risk women should ideally be at one of the three community maternity units, but can occur at Middlemore Hospital if this is closer to where you live.
Secondary/Tertiary Maternity Services – for women with higher risk pregnancies where specialist input into care is required. Consultant clinics are offered at Manukau and Botany SuperClinic™ as well as Pukekohe and Papakura Maternity Units.
Birthing for women requiring secondary care should occur at Middlemore Hospital.
Services Provided by Middlemore Hospital
• Primary, secondary and tertiary inpatient and outpatient services
• Antenatal appointments in community clinics
• Assessment, Labour and Birthing Unit (ALBU) - a 24-hour unit for emergency antenatal/postnatal assessments, labour and birthing for women with high risk pregnancies, and women living in the Mangere, Otahuhu, Papatoetoe areas. Referrals are necessary and early discharge (4 hours) is an option
• Maternity Ward - antenatal and postnatal inpatient services with emphasis on families, education and self care
• Neonatal Unit - intensive or special care for babies requiring additional services after birth
• Gynaecology Care Unit and Early Pregnancy and Assessment Clinic (EPAC) - provides assessment and care for women up to 20 weeks pregnant with GP or LMC referral
• Postnatal home visits service up to 6 weeks.
Assessment, Labour and Birthing Unit (ALBU)
Located on the 2nd floor of the Galbraith Building (adjacent to the main road next to the Emergency Department). For labouring women, the entrance is from the main road (labeled Birthing Unit), straight ahead to the lifts and up to 2nd floor reception. For all other women visiting the Unit and visitors, please drive to car parking behind the building and follow directions from the main hospital entrance.
The facilities at Middlemore Hospital were relocated in October 2007 and offer up-to-date technology within modern rooms.
Facilities in ALBU are:
• 17 birthing rooms, all with adjoining ensuites, 4 have baths
• 5 assessment rooms, with either beds or lazy boy chairs
• 4 multi-purpose flexi-rooms, used for assessment, induction, birthing or other procedures.
Maternity Ward
Located on the 4th Floor of the Galbraith Building (see directions above). A 45-bed ward for high risk antenatal/postnatal women that require inpatient admission, as well as low risk postnatal inpatient services for women who live locally to Middlemore Hospital. Advice with breastfeeding from a lactation consultant is also available.
Community Maternity Units
Primary maternity services (for women with low risk pregnancies) are offered at Botany, Papakura and Pukekohe Maternity Units. These are midwife-led units that offer labour pools or water birth as an option during childbirth.
There are Community Midwifery Services providing antenatal/postnatal continuity of care from each of the units. Labour delivery care is provided by experienced midwifery staff in the unit.
Self employed practitioners (independent midwives) also use the Units as a facility for birthing.
Community Midwifery Service
A community midwife is employed by the DHB and will provide you with outpatient antenatal and postnatal care. You will be seen by the community midwife at a community clinic near to where you live during pregnancy. A core midwife at the birthing facility will support you during labour. After discharge you will be visited by the same community midwife who saw you during pregnancy, when you go home with your baby.
Caseloading Midwifery Team
These Midwives provide continuity of care throughout your pregnancy, labour and postnatal period. A team midwife is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The midwives have easy access to consultation with obstetricians and may continue care if your pregnancy becomes high risk.
Shared Care
Some family doctors (GPs) contract with our maternity services to provide some of the care during your pregnancy. You will be seen by your GP antenatally with 3 scheduled appointments with a community midwife. You will be delivered at a unit of your choice and then visited at home after the baby is born, by the same midwife you saw during your pregnancy.
Obstetrician (or Obstetric Consultant)
Medical staff who provide care for women with complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. If you require this level of care during antenatal, labour or postnatal periods, your LMC will refer you.
Obstetric Medical Clinic
This is a service for women with very complex medical problems during pregnancy. Women are seen by the specialist team and, if required, monitored closely during their pregnancy and postnatally. Continuity of care is provided either with the LMC or by an obstetrician and the High Risk Midwife.
This antenatal clinic is at Manukau SuperClinic™ (Module 10) on Thursday afternoons.
Diabetes in Pregnancy Service
This team provides close monitoring of yur pregnancy with diabetes. You will also receive care from a midwife, obstetricians, diabetologists, and dietitians.
Young Mothers Service
The service is a community midwife provides continuity of midwifery ante- and postnatal care, together with social and peer support services to Mums less than 18yrs of age provided at "Awhitia", Building 39, Orakau Road, Mangere East.
