waitakere maternity virtual tour

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Waitakere Hospital Maternity Services (Waitemata DHB)

Public Service

Description

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 Waitakere Hospital

Waitakere Hospital provides a primary and secondary maternity facility for women with low risk pregnancies. The Special Care Baby Unit can accommodate babies over 32 weeks' gestation. Women who are expected to have complications requiring a 24-hour blood bank service or an Intensive Care Unit are advised to give birth at North Shore Hospital. 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 in West Auckland.

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 -  Waitakere Hospital has two birthing areas featuring a total of eight birthing rooms and two deep water birth pools. For women who are cared for by the community midwifery service, care during labour and birth is provided by Waitakere facility midwives.

Postnatal Wards - Waitakere Hospital has two postnatal wards - Te Henga and Piha – which feature a total of 30 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 to five days. Services available for maternity clients include:

• Physiotherapy: providing individual assessment, advice and treatment for women
• Lactation Consultant: to support women with complex breastfeeding issues and to provide practical breastfeeding workshops
• 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 whanau, providing access to health, advocacy and the appropriate support services where required.

The Asian Health Support Service brings together a variety of support networks for members of the Asian community.

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.

Please click here for maternity services provided at North Shore Hospital.

Consultants

Dr Adele Barr

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

Dr Sue Belgrave

Dr Reshma Desai

Dr Raj Kumar

Dr Shiu Kumar

Dr Bindu Soysa

Dr nilima upadhyay, dr thomas wimbrow, referral expectations.

All pregnant women should be encouraged to register with a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) as soon as possible in pregnancy. A LMC is either a Midwife, GP or Obstetrician. Your LMC will provide maternity care for you and your baby throughout pregnancy, birth and 4-6 weeks after your baby has been born.

Lists of LMCs are available at:

Healthpoint : www.healthpoint.co.nz/maternity/

Find Your Midwife : www.findyourmidwife.co.nz/

Mum2Be helpline Ph: 0800mum2be or 0800 686 223 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm (or 9.30 am to 5 pm on Wednesday)

MAMA : Ph:(09) 815 8108 or www.mamamaternity.co.nz

Services / Procedures / Treatments

Healthy babies healthy futures, early pregnancy clinic, antenatal screening tests.

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

Antenatal HIV Screening

Downs syndrome screening.

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

Newborn Hearing Screening

Videos - 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

Baby Movements in Pregnancy

Neonatal assessment of the hips, breastfeeding your baby, your health information, resource directory for pregnant teens, titifaitama breastfeeding support groups.

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

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 Waitemata DHB.

Document Downloads

• Waitemata Maternity Services - information for your stay (PDF, 650.5 KB) Helpful Information About Your Stay with Waitemata DHB Maternity Services
• Your Pregnancy & Blood Tests (PDF, 160.1 KB) Blood tests to help protect you, your baby, your whanau.
• Ministry of Health - HIV Testing in Pregnancy Pamphlet (PDF, 191.2 KB)
• Baby Movements (PDF, 1 MB)
• Breastfeeding Beginners Guide (PDF, 520.4 KB)
• Breastfeeding Beginner's Guide - (Simplified Chinese) (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Breastfeeding Information for Chinese Grandparents (PDF, 1.6 MB)
• Breastfeeding - Complex care - Neonates (PDF, 220 KB)
• Storing colostrum in pregnancy (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Infant formula guideline (PDF, 195.9 KB)
• Pamphlet - Water for Labour & Birth (PDF, 1.8 MB) Information for women on the use of water for pain relief during labour and birth.
• Giving Paracetamol Safely to Babies and Children (PDF, 946.8 KB) This pamphlet provides clear instructions on giving paracetamol to babies and children. It includes correct doses and who to contact if too much has been given.
• LEAFLET Vitamin K (PDF, 738.1 KB)
• Northern Region Safe Sleep Policy (PDF, 187.2 KB)
• Charges for Healthcare Services (PDF, 266.7 KB)
• Diabetes in pregnancy (PDF, 643.6 KB)
• Diabetes in pregnancy - simplified Chinese (PDF, 689.4 KB)
• WDHB GDM Algorithm 2015 (PDF, 273.6 KB)
• WDHB Info for HbA1c Test at Booking (PDF, 479.9 KB)
• Diabetes in Pregnancy Referral Form 2016 (PDF, 321.5 KB)
• Streptococcus infection (GBS) information leaflet (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Neonatal Hypoglycaemia (PDF, 300.6 KB)
• Urinary retention prevention and treatment (PDF, 175.7 KB)
• Group B Streptococcus (GBS) (PDF, 539.1 KB)
• Healthy Babies Healthy Futures (PDF, 1.8 MB)
• Induction of Labour Information Leaflet (PDF, 1,019.3 KB)
• Induction of labour - simplified Chinese (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Going Home With a Balloon Catheter Information Sheet (PDF, 111.4 KB)
• Birth After Caesarean leaflet (PDF, 827.2 KB)
• Breastfeeding - Beginners Guide (Thai) (PDF, 684.5 KB)
• Maternal Mental Health Screening and Referral (PDF, 205.7 KB)
• Your Labour - What you need to know (PDF, 2.1 MB)
• Your labour - what you need to know - simplified Chinese (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Epidural in labour leaflet (PDF, 728.6 KB)
• Low Dose Aspirin in Pregnancy (PDF, 980.4 KB)
• Physiotherapy - Postnatal Advice (PDF, 552 KB)
• Newborn Jaundice (PDF, 1,017.4 KB)
• Breech baby (PDF, 509.5 KB)
• Breech guideline (PDF, 161 KB)
• Turning your Breech Baby (PDF, 736.7 KB)
• Sharing Breastmilk (PDF, 524 KB)
• Metformin in Pregnancy (PDF, 180.2 KB)
• Perineal Massage Leaflet (preparing your body for birth) (PDF, 396.7 KB)
• Business card template for pregnancy and parenting classes/virtual tour of maternity (PDF, 734.4 KB)
• Post term referral form (PDF, 107.8 KB)
• Strategies for managing labour (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Maternity Quality and Safety Programme annual report 2017/2018 (PDF, 11.4 MB)
• Guideline - Opioids in Labour (PDF, 181.6 KB)
• Information for overnight support people (PDF, 98.9 KB)
• Information for overnight support people - Chinese (PDF, 144.5 KB)
• Maternity sepsis guideline (PDF, 465.7 KB)

Visiting Hours

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

Post natal rooms  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 the partner or key support person. Do not visit if you are unwell. Visiting Hours 2 - 4pm and 6 - 8pm.

For information about parking at Waitakere Hospital click here

Contact Details

Waitakere hospital.

West Auckland

www.waitematadhb.govt.nz

Antenatal Clinic: ph (09) 837 6609 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. Piha Ward: ph (09) 837 6605 Te Henga Ward: ph (09) 838 9545 Liaison Midwife: ph (09) 837 8808

Lincoln Road Henderson Waitakere

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This page was last updated at 1:11PM on January 22, 2019. This information is reviewed and edited by Waitakere Hospital Maternity Services (Waitemata DHB).

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Obstetric and Gynaecology Services

• The services for women during:
• pregnancy (antenatal)
• labour and delivery
• the time after childbirth (postnatal)
• North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals provide primary and secondary care service to all women with low, medium and some high risk pregnancies
• More complex obstetric women are transferred for birthing to North Shore Hospital with the availability of necessary back-up services

Gynaecology

• Health issues and conditions that are specific to women
• North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals provide the following Gynaecology services:
• Outpatient Gynaecology Clinics
• Outpatient Colposcopy Clinics
• Gynaecology Day Surgery

North Shore Hospital

• 24-hour Acute Gynaecology Service - via the Emergency Department
• Inpatient Surgery
• Early Pregnancy Clinic
• Hine Ora Gynaecology ward
• North Shore Hospital Ph (09) 486 8900
• Waitakere Hospital Ph (09) 486 8900

Healthpoint provides up-to-date information about our services at Waitemata DHB. Find out more about our Obstetric and Gynaecology services

A-Z Services

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Labour and Birthing suite

Virtual tour, your care team.

• What to expect, and what to bring with you

When should I call the Labour and Birthing Suite?

• Frequently Asked Questions

Our Labour and Birthing suite at Auckland City Hospital is one of the largest maternity units in New Zealand, providing both midwifery-led and specialist obstetric care. 

If you need more help deciding where to give birth, visit our page on  choosing where to birth . 

If you have your own midwife or lead maternity carer, they will arrange to meet you at our Labour and Birthing suite when labour starts. If you have chosen us as your care provider, our team of hospital midwives will look after you. We also have a team of hospital obstetricians and anaesthetists should you need them.

What to expect and bring with you

Before you come to our suite to give birth, be sure to check out our frequently asked questions and  virtual tour . They will help you and your support person understand what to expect and what to do when you arrive at our hospital in labour. 

We also encourage you to attend one of our free pain relief in labour talks for 2023 [PDF, 654 KB] or 2024 [PDF, 641 KB] beforehand and check out  our list of things to bring for you and your baby .   Don't forget to bring a car seat with you to transport your baby.

If you or your baby are well following birth, you will go to Birthcare for your postnatal care. If you need more specialised care, you will go to one of our postnatal wards at Auckland City Hospital.

For more on what to expect after birth as well as when you go home, see our section on care after birth.

Please call us on  09 307 2888 or 0800966264, option 1 if you think you are in labour or if any of the following happen:

• Your contractions are coming every five minutes, lasting longer than 50 seconds and have been getting stronger for at least two to three hours.
• You have severe or constant abdominal pain with a tight abdomen.
• Your water has broken and it is clear or has a tinge of pink. Put on a sanitary pad and check it after an hour. If it is wet, please ring us.
• Your water has broken and it is green or brown. Call us immediately - you will be advised to come into hospital.
• If there is a change in the pattern of your baby's movements.
• You notice any vaginal bleeding - bright red vaginal bleeding is not normal.

If you have been advised to ring the Labour and Birthing Suite early, due to a complication with your pregnancy, please do so . Tell us about the complication at the start of the call and the advice your LMC has given you. This will help us to give you the correct information.

Our Labour and Birthing Suite is located on level 9 of Auckland City Hospital and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

From the level 4 entrance off Park Road, head to lift bank A and push level 9. After you exit the lift, turn right to reach our Labour and Birthing suite.

If it is after 8pm the doors to the Labour and Birthing Suite will be locked so you will need to use the intercom on the wall outside the suite to gain entry. 

For more information on parking if you are arriving at our Labour & Birthing Suite in labour, please see our page on parking and transportation .  

Frequently asked questions

We have 14 birthing rooms with ensuite bathrooms. Six of the rooms also have a pool to use during labour. If you would like a room with a pool, we'll do our best to accommodate you at the time.

All birthing rooms are equipped to look after you and your baby during labour. This includes a monitor that records your baby's heart beat and your contractions.

Swiss balls and birthing stools are available if you need them. For more on what to bring with you, see our list of things to bring for you and your baby and information on coping with labour .

Kitchen and whānau rooms are also available for your use.

When you arrive at the hospital, park your car at the main entrance off Park Road. Please let our security team know you're here and leave a pre-written note on your dashboard that says you're heading to the Labour and Birthing Suite. Put your name and contact number on this note.

Once you've reached our Labour & Birthing suite, your support person will need to return to the car and move it to Carpark A. For more detailed information, watch our  virtual tour. It  will give you a better idea of what to expect and do when you arrive at the hospital in labour.

Please note : we are unable to offer free or reduced parking rates for labouring women or their whānau.

For more parking options for your visitors and whānau, see our   parking information page.

Yes, you can choose who you have with you during labour and birth. We just ask that your visitors please respect the privacy of other women in our birthing suite . 

In the interest of safety and security:

• There may be occasions when visitors are asked to leave the birthing room. In these instances we have a whānau room and a large atrium outside the birthing suite where they are welcome to wait.
• We ask that you do not obstruct the doorways or corridor.
• Please have a responsible adult to care for little ones.
• Do you have any requests that are not on your birth plan?
• Active management of third stage (birth of placenta) is recommended. Do you give your consent for the ecbolic (a drug that speeds up the delivery of the placenta by causing uterine contractions)?
• Do you want to take your placenta home or have the hospital dispose of it?
• Do you consent to Vitamin K for your baby?
• If it is necessary for the baby to be vaccinated for hepatitis B, have you signed the consent form? Which ethnic group or groups (up to three) do you want your baby registered with?
• Have you chosen a Well Child provider that you wish to be referred to at the appropriate time?
• If you and your baby are well, do you plan to transfer to Birthcare or discharge to home?

Please also note that we are a teaching hospital with a responsibility for developing the future maternity workforce.

We respect your choice if you wish to decline, however we may ask you if a midwifery or medical student can be involved in your birthing experience.

We have the following services to assist you during and after labour:

• Specialists  to care for women with complex needs.  These include women with high blood pressure, diabetes, multiple babies or who are birthing very early or late in the pregnancy.
• Pain relief and surgical facilities if they are required in emergency situations.
• We can perform caesarean sections .
• Lactation Consultants for anyone requiring assistance or needing to know more about special breastfeeding and lactation problems or about the importance of human milk.
• A  pain clinic  available to help manage pain.
• Counselling available for women who require support for their mental health.
• A  physiotherapy team to encourage recovery.
• We provide quit smoking services .

You are welcome to bring in your own food and snacks for you and your support person. We also have a kitchen with hot drinks and a microwave and refrigerator for you to use.

Meals are provided on the wards and at Birthcare. While every effort is made to meet your individual needs, if you have special dietary requirements, you may prefer to have a relative provide some of your meals and/or snacks.

There are also several food outlets and retails locations throughout the hospital. Find out more about them here.

Clinical ultrasound room

We complete ultrasounds for our high-risk mothers.

Clinical antenatal testing room

Our clinical antenatal testing rooms are where we monitor the baby’s fetal heart rate.