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Public Service

Northland DHB Maternity Services

Hours

The Maternity Unit operates a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week service for assessment, labour and birth.

Antenatal clinics are scheduled for various times and locations throughout the region. Should you be referred to a clinic you will be given an appointment time and information.

Description

What is Maternity?
Maternity is the area of medicine concerned with the treatment of women during pregnancy (antenatal), labour and delivery, and the time after childbirth (postnatal). Once pregnancy has been confirmed, regular antenatal checks will be performed by a midwife, GP or obstetrician (doctor who specialises in obstetrics). In the first 28 weeks, these checks will usually be done every month. They will be done more often as the pregnancy progresses, usually every week by the end of the pregnancy. 
 
 
What to Bring to the Maternity Unit
 

Some ideas of what to bring to hospital

Suggestions for labour:

  • Support person is welcome
  • Lip balm, massage oil
  • Warm socks
  • Own pillow
  • Food and drink for support person, energy snacks and drinks for you
  • Music of choice
  • All important camera
  • Wheatie bag for comfort
  • Toiletries

We recommend you leave your valuables at home.

For your ongoing stay in hospital:

  • Day or night wear; you may feel more comfortable in your own day clothes or night wear remembering that you will be breast feeding so an opening down the front is recommended
  • A supportive breast feeding bra is also essential and appropriate                                  
  • Your own pillow and cover
  • Complementary remedies and usual medications

For baby:

We provide singlets, clothes and nappies during your stay, but recommend that you bring woollen hat, booties and cardigans for your baby.

To take baby home:

Appropriate clothing for the time of year including a woollen hat, warm shawl or blanket.

Car seat appropriate for newborn baby is always required.

Referral Expectations

LMC or GP referral letter to the maternity team.

Procedures / Treatments

  • Amniocentesis

    This is a procedure used to evaluate the health of your unborn baby and identify any problems that may exist.… More

  • Antenatal Blood Tests

    Having blood tests early on in your pregnancy can help protect you and those close to you.… More

  • Caesarean Section

    A caesarean section is the name of the operation done to deliver a baby through a cut in your stomach and uterus (womb).… More

  • Chorionic Villus Sampling

    Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is used to test for genetic disorders, such as Down’s syndrome, and involves taking a small sample of the chorionic villi, which are the tiny units that make up the placenta.… More

  • Epidural

    An epidural is a type of anaesthetic (medication that stops pain and feeling) that makes your lower body numb without putting you to sleep.… More

  • Fetal Distress

    A fetus is the name given to an unborn baby after the eighth week of pregnancy until birth.… More

  • Flu Vaccination in Pregnancy

    If you get the flu during your pregnancy we now know both you and your baby are at risk of complications.… More PDF

  • Gestational Diabetes

    Gestation is the length of a pregnancy from conception to birth (usually 40 weeks in humans).… More

  • HIV Screening in Pregnancy

    Recommended routine screening for HIV testing in pregnancy for women … More

  • Induction of Labour

    Induction of labour is the process of starting labour artificially.… More

  • Infertility

    About one in every six couples in New Zealand will experience infertility.… More

  • Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

    In a very small number of pregnancies, the baby may not grow as well as in a normal pregnancy.… More

  • In Vitro Fertilisation

    This is the process of fertilising the woman’s egg with the male’s sperm outside of the woman’s body in the laboratory.… More

  • Obstetric Ultrasound

    Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning, is a method of obtaining pictures from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves.… More

  • Premature Baby

    A premature baby is one that is born before 37 weeks’ gestation (the length of a pregnancy from conception to birth).… More

  • Postpartum Depression

    The postpartum (also called postnatal) period is the time after the birth of a baby.… More

  • Toxaemia of Pregnancy (pre-eclampsia)

    Toxaemia of pregnancy or pre-eclampsia is a condition that occurs in some women during the second half of pregnancy.… More

  • Whooping Cough Vaccination in Pregnancy

    Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is very dangerous for newborn babies.… More PDF

Charges

How much does maternity care cost?

Maternity care is available free of charge to the woman. Access to specialist maternity care is also available free of charge unless the woman chooses to go to a private obstetrician. Non New Zealand residents must pay the full costs of the pregnancy, labour and birth care. Refer to the Ministry of Health website to see who is eligible for publicly-funded maternity services in New Zealand.

For a list of LMCs in your area contact the Ministry of Health 0800 MUM 2BE number - 0800 686 223.

Document Downloads

  • Breast Feeding Simply the Best (DOC, 1.8 MB)
    This booklet has been prepared by NDBH lactation consultants to assist new mothers. It can be downloaded and printed as a resource in the antenatal period.

Consultants

Dr David Bailey
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Jennifer Blasingame
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Anand Gangji
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Donna Hardie
Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (part time)
Dr Ian Page
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Jay Sirisena
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Kristy Wolff
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are from 11am - 8pm, on Ward 11. Partners may visit earlier by request but all visitors must leave by 8pm.

There is no restriction on visiting in the delivery suite.

Refreshments

Meals and refreshments are served throughout the day to women who are admitted to the maternity service.  For visitors and support people there are tea and coffee making facilities, and a vending machine on Ward 11. The delivery suite has tea and coffee making facilities.  There are also canteens on the ground floor near the main entrance and on the lower ground floor.

It can be good to have some high energy snacks prepared to bring in with you for labour; discuss this with your midwife.

Parking

There is a public car park inside the main entrance of the hospital on Maunu Road, and limited parking on Maunu Road.  There are a small number of parking spaces outside antenatal clinic for clinic appointments only, as well as limited parking on Hospital Road. 

Accommodation

There is limited accommodation for families and support people in the Whanau House, situated in Hospital Road.  There is a charge for this service which must be met prior to use.  In some circumstances it may be possible to get assistance with this.

Security

Security Officers are on duty 24 hours a day; they patrol all of the facilities on the hospital site.

The hospital and wards are locked down each night at 8pm and security guards are stationed at the ground floor main entrance and the Accident and Emergency Department.

Website

www.northlanddhb.org.nz

Other

Organisations Involved in Pregnancy and Maternity Care

 Parenting Support and Useful Parenting Websites

 

Other Useful Websites

HEALTHLINE
  • Phone 0800 611 116 for free 24-hour health advice
    Healthline is a free telephone health information service for all the family
  • Family Planning
    Whangarei Centre
    Laurie Hall Carpark
    1A Robert Street
    PO Box 52
    Whangarei 
    Ph: (09) 438 1986
    Fax: (09) 438 5328  

    Clinic Hours: 
    Monday & Tuesday: 9:00am - 4:00pm 
    Wednesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm 
    Thursday & Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm 
    Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00pm.
  • Whangarei Sexual Health Clinic (aka 123 Clinic )
    17 Norfolk Street (cnr of Grey St and Norfolk St)
    Whangarei
    Ph: (09) 438 6123
    Fax: (09) 438 6124 

    Clinic Hours: 
    Monday: nurses only 10:00am - 12:00pm and 1.30pm - 3.30pm (drop in)
    Tuesday: nurse only 1:30pm - 4.30pm (drop in). Male doctor 4:30pm - 6:30pm, plus nurses available (drop in male only clinic)
    Wednesday: nurses available 1:30pm - 6.00pm (drop in and appointment). Female doctor appointments 1:30pm - 4:30pm (drop in 4.30pm- 6.00pm) 
    Thursday: nurses available 9:00am - 12:00pm and 1:30pm - 4:00pm (drop in). Female doctor 9:30am - 12:00pm (drop in), 2:00pm - 3:30pm (appointments) 
    Friday: nurses available 9:30am - 12:00pm and 1:30pm - 4:00pm (drop in). Female doctor may be available. Phone for an appointment.
  • Dargaville Sexual Health Clinic 
    123 Clinic Dargaville
    Community Health Building 
    Ph: (09) 439 7149 extn 6733 
    Monday: drop in clinic 11:00am - 1:30pm 
  • Kaikohe Sexual Health 
    123 Kaikohe Clinic
    29 Rankin Street
    Ph: 0800 100 643 (press option 5)  
    Monday: drop in clinic 10:00am - 1:30pm

Locations Information

Choose one of the locations above for address and contact information.

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