Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Pregnancy is a time for looking at your options and making choices. All pregnant women need to choose a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) to organise your care during pregnancy, birth and after your baby is born. The LMC you choose may provide all your maternity care, or may share your care with one or more practitioners.

If you choose an ADHB National Women's midwife as your LMC, we can offer you a full range of quality services and expertise based on choice, consistency and continuity.

We see the importance of having services which meet the needs of Maori women. We also have a commitment to providing a quality service for the many different cultural groups of women using our maternity service. We have an interpreting service to make your visits easier.

We are happy to answer any questions you have.

At ADHB National Women's our experienced staff have a range of skills and expertise:

• Midwives: provide care during pregnancy, labour, birth and after the baby is born.
• Obstetricians: doctors who can provide care during pregnancy and birth but who specialise in the care of women whose pregnancy, labour or birth becomes complicated.
• Paediatricians: doctors who specialise in the care of babies, particularly those who are unwell or have special needs.
• Physicians: doctors who specialise in medical complications during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
• Anaesthetists: doctors who give anaesthetics including epidurals for childbirth.
• Registrars: doctors training to be obstetricians, paediatricians or anaesthetists under supervision from a specialist.
• House Officers: doctors gaining experience in maternity care or paediatrics under specialist supervision.
• Nurses: work with midwives in some areas of the maternity service to provide care to women and babies.
• Neonatal nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners: look after newborn babies requiring specialist care.
• Social Workers: provide counselling and assistance for individuals, couples and families.
• Physiotherapists: provide a service to women experiencing physical problems related to pregnancy.
• Lactation Consultants: provide education and support for staff who assist women with breastfeeding and help mothers and babies when there are feeding difficulties, for example a premature or unwell baby.
• For information on Auckland DHB Pregnancy and Parenting Education (Antenatal Classes)

National Women's Website:
nationalwomenshealth.adhb.govt.nz