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North Shore Hospital Maternity Services (Waitematā DHB)

Public Service

Description

Welcome to Waitematā District Health Board (DHB) Maternity Services. Waitematā DHB has two maternity units, based at Waitākere Hospital and North Shore Hospital.

Once you know you are pregnant, it is important to make an appointment with a midwife/lead maternity carer (LMC) as soon as possible. 

For help finding a midwife please visit:

Find your midwife: https://www.findyourmidwife.co.nz/

MAMA: Ph: 09 815 8108 or https://www.mamamaternity.co.nz 

If you are having trouble finding a midwife please phone our midwife liaison services on:

Waitākere Hospital 09 837 8808

North Shore Hospital 09 486 8900 Ext 47000

What is Maternity/Obstetric/Midwifery care?

Maternity care is care provided to you during your pregnancy, labour and birth, and up to 6 weeks after your baby is born, and care provided to your baby for the first six weeks. Maternity care is provided to you by a midwife (free) or a private obstetrician (not free). Once you have chosen a maternity carer this person is then referred to as your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC). Your LMC will provide regular care and check ups for you during your pregnancy, attend your labour and birth, and check on you and baby regularly after the birth. If you have a more complex pregnancy or have underlying medical conditions your care will be provided by your LMC and a team of doctors and midwives from the hospital.

Place of birth

Many women give birth at either Waitākere or North Shore hospital. However, your options for giving birth also include a primary birth unit or your home. For some women, giving birth at home is a safe option. Please talk with your LMC about this.

Birthing at one of the primary birthing units is also a safe choice for low-risk women. The Primary Birthing Units in the Waitematā DHB Area are:

If you give birth at Waitākere Hospital/North Shore Hospital, you can still be transferred to one of the units soon after your birth for your postnatal stay (space permitting). All of our maternity units as well as the primary birthing units have BFHI accreditation and all midwives, nurses and lactation consultants are very experienced in helping with establishing breastfeeding.

Virtual tour of the maternity facilities at Waitakere and North Shore Hospitals
(If your monitor doesn't have audio output, you may need to use headphones)

 

Maternity Services at North Shore Hospital

North Shore Hospital provides a primary and secondary maternity facility for women with low or medium risk pregnancies. The Special Care Baby Unit can accommodate babies over 32 weeks' gestation. National Women’s Health at Auckland City Hospital provides tertiary-level care.

Community Services

Liaison Midwife - finding a midwife can be a very confusing and stressful time, especially for first time mothers or those who have found the system has changed since their last child. The Liaison Midwife informs women of their choices as to who can provide them with pregnancy care.  The Liaison Midwife will also discuss what may suit each individual woman best and make the appropriate referrals to ensure antenatal care begins.

Community Midwifery - this team of midwives provides support for the antenatal clinics and provides antenatal and postnatal care for women unable to register with an LMC.

Antenatal Clinic Services - for secondary obstetric, obstetric physician or anaesthetic consultations as required.

Pregnancy and Parenting Education - includes courses of both antenatal classes and breastfeeding workshops.

Lactation Consultant Clinics  - Get expert advice for specific breastfeeding problems from qualified lactation consultants.

Facility Services

Birthing Facilities – North Shore Hospital has a large birthing suite featuring a total of ten birthing rooms and three deep water birth pools. There is also space to assess and monitor 4 women in pregnancy or early labour. For women who are cared for by the community midwifery service, care during labour and birth is provided by North Shore Hospital facility midwives.

Postnatal Wards - North Shore Hospital has one large Maternity Suite to accommodate 36 postnatal beds. The average length of stay for women who have had a normal vaginal birth is two - three days. The average length of stay for women who have had a Caesarean Section is three - five days. Services available for maternity clients include:

  • Lactation Consultant: to support women with complex breastfeeding issues and to provide practical breastfeeding workshops
  • Physiotherapy: providing individual assessment, advice and treatment for women
  • Social Work: experienced social workers provide confidential counselling and advocacy services and information on community support.
  • Cultural support: Te Puna O Te Ora Services provide cultural support to Maori women and their whānau, providing access to health, advocacy and the appropriate support services where required. A Maori community liaison worker is also available to assist you and your whānau
  • A Pacific Island community liaison worker advocates and liaises between members of Pacific Island communities and maternity to improve access for women and their families.
  • Asian Health Support Service offer a variety of support networks for members of the Asian community.

Please click here for maternity services provided at Waitakere Hospital.

Referral Expectations

Your LMC will arrange for any necessary referrals to an appropriate specialist at any time during your care, with your consent.

Specialist Appointment – If you have been referred to our team of doctors by your LMC, you may meet with one of our obstetricians, anaesthetists or obstetric physicians to make a care plan that is appropriate to your needs and health condition. You may meet the specialist once, or more frequently throughout your care depending on the reason for referral. You will receive a letter in the post advising of your appointment if one is needed.

Diabetes service – If you have been diagnosed with diabetes in pregnancy you will be referred to our team of specialised midwives who work with our obstetricians and obstetric physicians to provide you excellent care that will help ensure the best health for you and your baby.

Services / Procedures / Treatments

  • Healthy Babies Healthy Futures

    Give babies and toddlers a HEALTHY start to every day!
    Come join in the fun, meet other mums, learn some great tips or relax and enjoy a hot cuppa!… More PDF

  • Antenatal Screening Tests

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

  • Downs Syndrome Screening

    Screening for Downs Syndrome and other chromasomal (genetic) abnormalities is now routinely offered.… More

  • Antenatal HIV Screening

    The aim of HIV testing in pregnancy is to identify HIV infection in pregnant women.… More PDF

  • 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

  • Baby Movements in Pregnancy

    The following pamphlet helps guide you about baby movements in pregnancy, and when to call your LMC. More PDF

  • Diabetes in Pregnancy

    Our team of specialised midwives work with you, and our obstetricians and obstetric physicians to provide you excellent care that will help ensure the best health for you and your baby. More PDF

  • High Blood Pressure and Pre-eclampsia

    High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia can affect up to 10% of pregnant women.… More PDF

  • Breech Baby

    Information on how to help your breech baby to turn head down and birth choices if your baby remains in the breech position. More PDF

  • Induction of Labour

    Some women may be recommended to have an induction of labour for medical reasons or if your pregnancy continues for more than 41 weeks.… More PDF

  • Labour and Birth

    Giving birth can be an exciting but anxious time. Please talk with your LMC about your choices for labour and birth.… More PDF

  • Breastfeeding your Baby

    Waitematā DHB provides a range of resources to assist mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding for their babies.… More PDF

  • Titifaitama Breastfeeding Support Groups

    These groups are led by the Pacific Cultural Liaison Co-ordinator together with a Lactation Consultant.… More PDF

  • How to Protect your Baby from Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant

    Make every sleep a safe sleep for all infants, and reduce the rate of SUDI in the Northern Region.… More

  • Newborn Hearing Screening

    The aim of the UNHSEIP (Universal Newborn Hearing Screening & Early Intervention Programme) is for early identification of newborns with hearing loss.  The programme ensures that they can access timely and appropriate interventions, inequalities are reduced and the outcomes for these children, their families and whanau, communities and society are improved.… More PDF

  • Neonatal Assessment of the Hips

    Clinical pathway to assist and support LMCs. More PDF

  • Early Pregnancy Clinic

    The Early Pregnancy Clinic at North Shore Hospital sees women up to 19 weeks pregnant who have a confirmed pregnancy loss on ultrasound.… More PDF

Charges

Maternity care is free to New Zealand citizens, residents, and some permit holders. Please bring a copy of your passport or birth certificate with you to your first appointment.

Click here for more information about healthcare charges at Waitematā DHB.

Document Downloads

Visiting Hours

Birthing Suite
Partner and key support people are welcome in the birthing room or may wait in the visitors lounge.

Maternity Suite
Partner or one key support person: 7am - 9pm
Restricted Visiting:  see below

Restrictions

  • Rest period: 1pm - 2pm
  • No children except the brothers and sisters of the new baby
  • Only two visitors at a time plus partner or key support person
  • Do not visit if you are unwell
  • Visiting Hours 2 - 4pm and 6 - 8pm

Parking

For information about parking at North Shore Hospital (click here)

Contact Details

North Shore Hospital

North Auckland

Antenatal Clinic: ph (09) 486 8920 ext 42857
Pregnancy and Parenting Education
Click here for information and to register for:
- Pregnancy & Parenting courses
- Breastfeeding classes
Alternatively please phone or text Barbara Taylor on 021 784 265

Birthing Suite: (09) 486 8920 ext 43056
Maternity Suite: (09) 486 8920 ext 42848
Early Pregnancy Clinic: 021 243 9729

Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland 0620

Information about this location

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Get directions

Street Address

Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland 0620

Postal Address

North Shore Hospital
Private Bag 93 503
Takapuna
North Shore City 0740

This page was last updated at 1:32PM on April 7, 2020. This information is reviewed and edited by North Shore Hospital Maternity Services (Waitematā DHB).