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Grace from Lower Hutt birthing Saige

8/9/2021

 
If you can avoid the hospital, I would pick the
Birthing Centre 100 times over the hospital.
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The Birthing Centre is it!

They’re amazing, welcoming and loving.

From the start until the day I left they made me feel comfortable and well looked after.

Everything was ready when I got there. I didn’t need to wait or worry about anything! Not only did they make me and my little family feel at home, but they also welcomed our extended family and made them feel welcomed and comfortable.

We didn’t feel rushed out like you would at the hospital and they didn’t mind how many visitors we had coming in and out.

They made sure we were ready before leaving and gave us a gift package.

Our stay was like a 5 star hotel.

It was an amazing experience and I would go back there in a heart beat! This is devastating news to hear the Birthing Centre closing. I have so much love for this Birthing Centre and the lovely ladies that work there.

Rhiannon from Stokes Valley birthed Aria and Te Wairama at the Birthing Centre in 2018 and 2021

7/9/2021

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​I birthed here with my last 2 children in 2018 & 2021.

I love it so much!

The comfort, the space, the privacy, the food and no stress.

I had my first child in the hospital and I couldn’t bear being there any longer than overnight so I left first thing in the morning.

This birthing centre leaves a special place in mine and my partner's hearts, whenever we even drive past we remember the fond memories of our babies being born and it feels different to just driving past the hospital.

We hope it doesn’t close although no more kids for us LOL.
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Jodie from Waiwhetu birthed Bryleigh at the Birthing Centre, after birthing her 1st child at the hospital - she compares the two experiences...

7/9/2021

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Birthing here with my 2nd child was a massively positive experience I cannot emphasis enough compared to my past experience with my 1st born being born at Hutt Hospital.
The wrap around support care, love, not just for my baby but for myself and my husband. The feeling you get from this kind of environment means you're going to birth better, baby is less stressed as can feel that from mum. All the little things mean so much at such a stressful time. I could just focus on my baby and enjoy every moment and know we felt safe and if I needed help, it was there. 

Our mothers and babies of this area need this beautiful service. Its vital.

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Nicole from Wainuiomata, Mum to Zeke & Māia Heron

6/9/2021

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Kia ora - my name is Nicole and I would love to share my story with you to advocate for keeping Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre open.  Before I begin, I want to say I have two children, Zeke who was born at the birth centre in 2018, and Māia who was born at the hospital earlier this year and then I was able to transfer to the birth centre for recovery.  Therefore there will be two parts with perspectives from birthing at both places.

From the night I toured the hospital maternity ward with my antenatal group I knew I didn't want to birth there, it was cold, sad and uninviting.

Zeke: I carried Zeke until 41weeks 3days gestation, on the lead-up to my birth the staff at the Birth Centre were welcoming for tours and allowing my pre-labour monitoring to happen there as I was low risk. I went into natural labour. Upon arrival at the Birthing Centre the staff had already heated the room and run the bath for myself and my partner. The staff were welcoming and warm from the moment my partner and I entered, offering drinks, ice, and snacks throughout my labour. Zeke was born at 12:45am in the bath with my husband by my side, sister in the room helping with music and my midwife in charge. Each respecting my space. The midwife on duty and my midwife Kerry assisted me with breastfeeding positions and allowed for delayed cord clamping to occur.

​They also took my placenta and bagged it with my name on it and placed it in the freezer for me to take home. As they were aware of my cultural need and desire to keep it for a whenua committal.

Once we were clean the midwife on duty brought in a ham cheese toastie and a milo because I hadn't eaten since 5pm. (This may seem small but it is one thing that has stuck with me since and something that I came to appreciate more after the birth of my daughter.)  At approximately 4am, my blood wasn't clotting and I was experiencing pain that was keeping me awake, I called the midwife who immediately gave me a drip in my arm and helped me by manually clearing my uterus of clots, it was painful but she helped to talk me through it and calm me down. From there I was able to sleep and only be woken when she came to remove the drip. I felt safe and comfortable enough to close my eyes.

The next day was filled with a lot of learning for both my husband and I, which was made easy by the midwife Jenny. She demonstrated to us both how to bath Zeke safely and again how to breastfeed competently. We felt awhi.
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The food was always amazing throughout my recovery and there every time I needed it. As a new mum who was breastfeeding, I never realized just how much food I needed just to sustain myself. When we left we were hugged, congratulated and given more aroha than I have ever experienced from a health organisation and we knew we would come back again.
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Māia: I carried Māia for 41weeks 5days. The entire pregnancy was low risk however, I was having difficulty with hip and back pain so I was desperate to have my baby as soon as possible. At 41w 1d my midwife told me my plan of birthing at the birth centre was over from today as "they" had a cut off time. I was distraught and cried on the car ride home. When I calmed down, I called the birth centre and the receptionist was nothing but compassionate and empathetic. She assured me the "cut off" was 42weeks and went as far as to take me through some breathing techniques over the phone. (Because I began to cry again.)

At my next appointment, I told my midwife who then said, I was misinformed but it didn't matter because I was being induced which can't happen at the birth centre. It hit me hard, but I had to stick with the positive of having a healthy baby at the end and maybe the hospital wasn't as bad as people said. Still I tried every trick in the book for natural labour induction, acupuncture, spicy food, exercise, sex. To no avail.

Induction day
1pm:  I arrived at 1pm for in induction at 1:30pm. Nervous excited. 1:30pm came and went, we were still sitting in the reception area

2pm: someone came and showed me to a room and left. The room had wallpaper peeling from the walls, random strangers walked in looking for other people, my bed had no brakes or blankets. Finally at

3pm: someone came and inserted a line into my arm in preparation for oxytocin. Then, I saw no one until

6pm: it was dinner time. My husband asked when induction would begin and if a balloon was inserted could we go home, the answer from the midwife "feel free to leave, but your wife will stay here" and that I was "not a priority so it will happen when it happens".

8pm: I could not take it any longer and asked again "when will we start because I want to go home." and began to cry again. I felt forgotten and unimportant, if my husband had left when she said to earlier I would've been alone for hours!

9pm: the Doctor came in and inserted the balloon, excitement hit me again finally.

The next morning:
8am, I had my breakfast and went to shower and was met by a nurse who literally ripped the balloon out while I stood in the doorway. I felt like my mana had been quashed.

9am, 5cm dilated, syntocinon begun and the excitement returned.

Lunchtime:  came and went, no changes with baby and I was hungry. It wasn't until then that I was told I wasn't allowed food or liquid apart from water, the hopes for a water birth were no longer there. I felt so uninformed and frankly annoyed.

5pm: syntocinon was increased from 2mg to 4mg, the contractions increased hard and I used the gas as pain relief. I was told she may be stuck with the cord around her neck. I broke down again. I went from natural water birth to possible C section. I felt my autonomy had gone.

5:30pm: I requested an epidural as the pain and exhaustion became too much and I was close to passing out. I told the nurses and doctors no one was to touch me until the epidural had set in and finally they respected my wishes.

6pm: I gave permission to be checked and they found I was 10cm dilated and Māia was fully engaged.

7:45pm: Māia was born vaginally at 8lb 5oz, no complications or intervention as initially suspected - 2 Doctors, 2 Midwives, a Nurse and an anaesthetist present.
I finally had my girl. However, after her cord was cut everyone disappeared and left us alone. My placenta bagged and on the bench. I was exhausted, hungry, full of emotion, like I had nothing left to give.​
My husband helped me with her latch and left the room to call Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre to enquire about a transfer into their care, they said yes. It was the first time throughout my birth that I felt calm. When we informed my midwife she said it was the first she had ever heard of a transfer being possible and called to confirmed what we had told her. We were taking back our Mana. I had to stay one more night in the hospital and wait for the epidural to wear off. The recovery room was cold, dark, small.  I could hear babies crying and people crashing about in the hall.

10pm: I had my first meal since breakfast at 8am, after my husband drove to Burger Fuel. (In my opinion no birthing mother should be left that long without food.)

3am: I requested ibuprofen and panadol as my pains were becoming too much, the nurse agreed to bringing me some however, never came back.

In the morning, I focused on getting ready to discharge/transfer. A midwife came in to check over Māia and made a comment that my husband "hasn't done a good job of keeping her warm."  I was anxious to leave all the more. The discharge midwife came around at
8am and was delightful.  She provided me with the pain medication I requested at 3am, as well as a prescription for more postpartum.
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​Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre: We were met at the door with smiles, they led me to room 12, the very room I gave birth to Zeke in 2.5years ago. I was overcome with joy and love. The Staff helped us settle in, offered to comfort Māia when I slept, make me a milo and toasties. It was the best milo I had had in days. We felt whanaungatanga and awhi and my husband was never shunned. The quiet calm nature of the place and staff were a big part of my recovery and I wholly believe that had I not been able to recover here, I would have post natal depression. My newborn baby slept five hour blocks, we felt safe.

I recommend Te Awakairangi Birth Centre to all my friends and family and I'm devastated to hear of the potential closure of this brilliant facility, it's people and of course the food.​
Sadly, after the birth of Māia I no longer want any more children, though not physically traumatic, the lack of care from Hutt hospital made that decision for me.

I'm grateful for the beautiful uplifting experience with Zeke and I will always hold that dear to me and tell the story for years to come. I hope funding is approved because every province needs a birth centre for low risk mothers, not only to take the strain of the hospitals but for the mental health of new parents and babies.

Thank you for taking the time to read my stories. I felt as though I needed to share both in their entirety to encompass how true of an asset this facility is.

Ngā mihi nui koutou,
Nicole Heron (nee Nevin)
​Wainuiomata
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Paula from Fairfield birthed Lottie Iris at the Birthing Centre

6/9/2021

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The birthing unit was incredible. The moment I arrived I felt calm.
The large rooms, dimmed lights and light walls make the place relaxing. I had the most amazing birth experience, delivering my 3rd large baby in the bath with the support of my partner and incredibly encouraging midwife.

I’m so thankful Judi supported my decision of wherever I’d like to birth, and I trusted her completely and felt safe at Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre.

But it was also the days later that set me up for a healthy mind to head home to a family of 5.

After giving birth at the Hutt hospital previously, the following night was spent in a dark, old room, with a small window, and the loud noises of the midwives and nurses outside was awful. I was rattled.

The surrounding rooms at the Birthing Centre are quiet. You are welcomed and well cared for with delicious and nutritious food. And to be able to comfortable have my family visit was so special.
Just look at the doting faces of Lottie’s older siblings. ​

We all fit in the bed and bonded together. 
​That is magical. Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre was the best decision I ever made. I’m so thankful for their services to families in the community. A true asset in the region. 

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Joanna from Trentham, gave birth to Lily at the Birth Centre

5/9/2021

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I have birthed both at Hutt Hospital and the Birth Centre, my experience in the Birth Centre was better than I could ever imagine.



I felt so much more supported, cared for, safe and comfortable at the birth Centre. I would never birth in a hospital again, After my experience in the birth Centre.
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Ritisha from Upper Hutt birthed Dhiyaan at the Birth Centre

3/9/2021

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​I experienced the birth I wanted during the most unprecedented times with the support of my midwives and team of carers at the birthing centre in Melling.

My son was born naturally at the birthing centre 33minutes into the first lockdown which was a very stressful time for a first time mother. The staff were very supportive, my husband was able to stay with me the WHOLE time to provide me with support as we weren't allowed visitors with the level 4 status of the country. The midwives were available for questions, help and support 24/7 no matter what and even took baby for a couple of hours so we could get some sleep.

The facilities are second to none, we had our own private room with a bathroom/toilet, with the option to have waterbirth or birth wherever felt right. I can't imagine being able to do this in a hospital or at home with other family around. The food was nutritious and delicious, my first meal was AMAZING (after 36hrs vomiting during labour).

I am forever grateful to these people and for allowing me to have such a positive birthing experience. I am saddened that this service and facility which did not cost me a cent, may be unavailable to mothers in the future. A service which should be the standard of care in a hospital setting, which unfortunately is stretched to their limits and underfunded.

I hope for things to change and remain positive, as I know NZ is a country that has led the way before in many other issues  (gay marriage, Covid strategies, womens' right to vote) and long may it continue  especially in relation to freedom of womens' birthing rights. That starts with saving the birthing centre!!!  I support you 100%! 
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NB.  Ritisha's midwives, who helped her to have this amazing experience, are leaving practice at the end of 2021 due to the terrible conditions and pay that LMC midwives have to work under in NZ.
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Hinetaapora from Tawa birthed Arihia at the Birthing Centre

3/9/2021

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I chose to give birth at Te Awakairangi because I wanted a space that I could feel in control, I felt welcomed and the facilities were amazing. I couldn't believe that I could give birth there for free and that my husband would be able to spend the first night with me because hospitals never allow partners to stay.

After the experience of my eldest son (I was 18 years old and gave birth at the hospital) it was a very traumatic experience and I knew that I wanted to give birth at Te Awakairangi from the first tour I had of the place.

Sure enough, our stay - from the time I entered there when I was in labour to the time we left with our daughter was the most wonderful experience.  It felt relaxing and was the best way to spend the first 36 hours of my daughter's life.  I felt the post-care I experienced from the midwives was the best I have ever received and felt so looked after. 

I had such a positive birthing experience at Te Awakairangi. There is simply no other place like this and it would be a true and utter shame if it was to be closed down.

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Christina from Kelson, who birthed Paige at the Birth Centre

2/9/2021

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The idea of birthing at the hospital gave me major anxiety and being my first pregnancy I didn’t feel comfortable having a home birth so birthing at the Birth Centre felt like the most natural choice from very early on. Leading up to my birth we found out that the birthing centre was closing over Christmas which was right around when I was due, this gave me major anxiety about the thought of having to birth at the hospital. While we were doing a group tour of the birthing centre they asked us when we were due, and one women was almost brought to tears as she was due around the closure period and she had had a traumatic birth experience previously. She said there was absolutely no way she could step foot in the hospital to birth again. Thankfully for me I went into labour before the Christmas closure and I had a beautiful intervention free birth at Te Awakairangi. Our birth experience felt so calm, and that all our requests were honoured and we couldn’t have asked for a better birth experience.
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The after care was wonderful and it was amazing as a first time Mum to be able to call the midwives in for support whenever I needed as I was learning to latch/breastfeed our daughter. Nothing felt like a bother and they were so amazing at supporting us into our parenting journey. If it wasn’t for the support from the midwives at Te Awakairangi I don’t know if we would of had such a smooth pain free breastfeeding journey, so thank you!

The idea of Te Awakairangi closing actually fills me with fear of another pregnancy and what that birth experience might bring/the possible outcome. If I had the choice I would bring another baby into the word at Te Awakairangi where we had exceptional care and I was able to have the perfect, intervention free, holistic birth I had always wished for.

Women’s birth experiences good or bad stay with them forever so the thought of the choice being taken away from women as to where they birth is heartbreaking.

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Abbey from Pinehaven who birthed Noah at Hutt Hospital, and Kobie at the Birth Centre

1/9/2021

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My name is Abbey. I have had the ability to birth both at Hutt hospital in 2020 and at Te Awakairangi birthing centre in 2021. Both times I have been lucky enough to experience community midwives. My first midwife did not birth by choice at the birthing centre. My second midwife was more confident and offered this as an option. These two experiences began with very similar circumstances (same timing of labour, same time of day, no water broken).

During my first birth (hospital) I arrived at hospital and as soon as I arrived I was TOLD to go to the toilet, I was TOLD that I needed an exam to check how far along I was, it was that time that the midwife broke my waters (I was not asked if this could happen, I was TOLD that during the exam they broke which was a good thing). It was at this point that my baby went into distress and nurses and Drs were called in as in the rush of my waters breaking they had lost his heartbeat and needed to intervene by hooking me to a monitor (which I was not asked if this was okay) and putting a monitor on my baby's head. There was arguing between the Dr and the midwife, and I largely felt out of control, and that things were happening to me without any input from me or my husband. I feel like a lot of this was unnecessary and that everyone was just in a rush to get baby out and that the faster the better. I was then told if I wanted my own room then I needed to hurry up and hand baby over to get dressed and have a shower, this took time away from me bonding with my baby and I felt pressure to hurry up and get ready just so that I could secure a room.
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This was wildly different to my experience at the birthing centre. Again, my waters had not broken during labour, but my midwife did not feel the need to perform an exam. During my whole birthing experience I was not physically examined at all, my midwife did not need to touch me at all during my labour. The environment was calm, quiet, the bath was run and waiting for me when I arrived, staff welcomed me and directed me to my room. When I felt stressed through physical pain, my midwife gave me options and asked what would be comfortable for me. As a result and not victim to time pressure I felt more in control and felt like my voice was the loudest in the room. The whole experience was calm, and I felt like I had a much better experience birthing when I was very calm and in control. Following the birth I was able to take as much time as I liked to bond with my baby. I was in the room that I birthed in, and I was calm and relaxed at this point.

During my stay at the birthing centre, I felt confident that the staff there were there to support me, irrespective of time, and business. I needed support feeding baby, and the staff spent as much time as necessary supporting me, checking in on me regularly and I really felt heard and valued. Having the option for my husband to stay with me made things 100x easier as he was not bound to visiting times, especially during the night when baby was getting grizzly and I was feeling overwhelmed with feeding. Having an environment where my family could be with me, I had the opportunity to make myself breakfast and snack when I felt like it all helped me to feel normal and in control of what was happening.

Future birthing I would never question where I want to give birth, I would choose the birthing centre every time. I will likely have a home birth as it seems like my only other reasonable option (although I do not particularly want to give birth in my own home) as my experience with the hospital (although a very normal birth) was not a great one especially in comparison to the birthing centre.

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Toni, support staff member at the Birthing Centre

31/8/2021

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I've been with the birthing centre since it opened, doing full time, then casual.

I love being there seeing women come and go, giving birth and being able to look after them, and their child.

I've never seen mothers/fathers sooo relaxed and feeling and looking refreshed after giving birth like they do when they go to be discharged from the Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre, compared to being at the hospital. 
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​It's one of the most safest and relaxed places for our beautiful wāhine to be able to birth and feel like they are going to have the best experience that they can while being here .

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Amy, LMC Midwife, who works from and is based out of the Birthing Centre for her clinics

28/8/2021

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Kimberley & James from Eastbourne have had both daughters Fern & Nova in the Birth Centre.  Kimberley explains how that was...

25/8/2021

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I've birthed both my daughters at the birthing centre - I felt so supported, encouraged and empowered during these births.

The environment that was created at the birthing centre was amazing and I feel it was a main factor in having to amazing, completely natural births.

The staff were incredible, the facilities were luxurious and the food was stunning.
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I often recount my amazing birth stories to other people.

I was able to become a mother feeling nourished and supported, and both occasions I left feeling restored and excited for the next steps in my daughters lives.

I feel privileged and honoured to have given birth naturally in such an amazing environment and feel so sad that it might be taken away from women and whanau of the Lower Hutt region.

I just want to thank the Centre so much! I sent letters after both girls birth, to express my thanks, but I just want to say again that I will never forget our births. Thank you!!!!

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Robyn was turned away from Hutt Hospital as they were full when she was in labour at 41 weeks and 5 days (despite being told she needed to be in hospital to birth).  Baby Camryn was born at the Birth Centre.

25/8/2021

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I was turned away from Hutt Hospital while in labour at 41 weeks 5 days pregnant. They were closed - no rooms, beds or staff available, despite me being told I needed a hospital birth.

There was no way I'd make it to Wellington Hospital, I had barely made it to Hutt Hospital. Thankfully the Birthing Centre was just down the road and I made it there just in time to hit the 'transition' stage of labour. Without this facility I honestly don't know what I would have done.

I was transferred by ambulance to Hutt Hospital immediately after birth for emergency surgery. Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre staff provided warm winter woolies for my baby for her first midnight car ride, barely a hour or two old. Of course I didn't pack those - none of this was in my birth plan.

The poor state of affairs at Hutt Hospital was quickly apparent. After surgery the surgeon couldn't find a midwife to bring my baby to me so I was sent back to the ward rapidly to be with her. I found my partner shell shocked and alone. No one had told him what was going on, when I'd be back or what he should do with his new baby.

Many of the staff seemed stressed, often had little time to provide support and were sometimes unempathetic or unkind. The delivery ward was closed twice more during the time I was there. That means it closed 3 times in 5 days.

Hutt Hospital maternity department is in a terrible state, but everyone already knows that. There have been far too many poor reports and horrifying headlines about poor care leading to disability and death.

We need the Birthing Centre. I am shocked to hear it may close. Maternity services are in a horrifically poor state. Why are birthing parents and babies so undervalued? It's beyond belief that we are having this conversation.

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Fleur from Waterloo, talking about Edie's birth

25/8/2021

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What a wonderful, calm space for birthing mothers and their whanau. Caring, supportive, patient staff, providing smiles, nourishment and comfort in the wonderful transition of pregnancy- birth- motherhood. Every mother should be given the time to rest, recover and bond while in such a lovely, caring environment.

Having given birth to my eldest at the hospital 14 month earlier- what a remarkable difference in comfort, and calm recovery. There is a need for freeing up hospital space, there is a need for providing a recovery space.

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Fiona from Upper Hutt, talking about the birth of Zara

25/8/2021

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When I found out I was pregnant my first thought was fear. Not about being pregnant but about giving birth in hospital. As a child I was very sick in and out of hospital a lot, which later turned into a fear of hospitals.

I was so thankful that I managed to get an LMC and was able to have the option to give birth in the birthing centre. It was a very relaxed environment that did not add any further stress to myself and my partner where the hospital would have. The day my daughter was born it was soon discovered she had a respiratory issue and was placed on oxygen and monitored.

We were then transferred to hospital where she was admitted into SCBU for 5 days. I am thankful for the prompt attention we received from the multiple midwives involved in my birth. The care I received whilst at the birthing centre was a thousand times better then the care I received when is hospital where I was often left in pain with no medication waiting after repeatedly hitting the call button.

For me personally having somewhere to birth that was not hospital (or at home which was not an option) was a life saver, to the point that if the birthing centre does close it would likely prevent me from having further children.
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Kylie and Steve from Stokes Valley, with baby Lukas

25/8/2021

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After having all of my appointments at the facility I felt like we were quite friendly with the majority of the staff and was adamant that I wanted to give birth at the facility.

However with my son determined not to come out on his own accord I had to be induced which meant a hospital birth. Needless to say I was a bit upset that the one thing I wanted for my birth could not come true.

After struggling with breast feeding at the hospital when we were offered to transfer to the birthing centre I jumped at the chance because I know that they are fairly supportive and a lot more hands on with the breast feeding.

Upon arriving the receptionist Angela knew as soon as she saw me what I was there for and lunch had been saved for me as I had not had lunch at the hospital.

I am now breast feeding confidently and without any struggles with lots of thanks from this centre. I feel like without this support I would have given up hope with breast feeding, which being able to do so has only allowed me to bond further with my son.

I feel like it will be a huge loss for the community if the Birth Centre closes because we were made to feel like part of the family and we will see more mothers struggling to do things that, with the support of the staff, were made possible for me.

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A plea from Gillian from Kelson

25/8/2021

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When I had my son almost 5 years ago I was gutted that the birthing centre wasn’t open yet.  Now I am ready for baby number 2 and am devastated that it could be closing!

I took a tour of the birthing centre and it is the most beautiful, calming place.  I have many friends who have raved about their experience there. 

Please please keep it open!
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Suzi Hume, LMC midwife who has supported birthing whānau at the Birthing Centre

25/8/2021

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​I am a midwife of 30 years, I have had the privilege of being at births in a variety of birth spaces, initially all in the hospital until 2001 when I became a Lead Maternity Caregiver and started attending homebirths, this undoubtedly changed my point of view on birth.

I saw how the home environment supports a physiological flowing birth with less complications. I saw how the women were more comfortable and more able to relax. Not every woman wants to birth at home.  For some women going to a special place separate from home, but with a homelike environment is more conducive for them to relax.

Te Awakairangi provides a new choice that was very much lacking in the Hutt region. Initially it was underutilised because the DHB didn’t support it and a lot of the community presumed it must cost them something.

​I have cared for women from all demographics of age, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds and they have all shared a love of what Te Awakairangi has offered them.

They love the birthing space with their own luxurious room with ensuite bathroom with a big birthing bath, dimmed lighting, quietness, and a big double bed. This home-like but better than home and birth-perfect environment fosters feelings of comfort and calm for the birthing woman, and as the research shows increases her chance of an empowering and safe birth.

But that’s not all…after the birth, partner or support person can stay, there is ample breastfeeding and new parenting support, nutritious food, and a calm nurturing environment to be enjoyed for 48 hours before discharge to home. Without a doubt I saw more women have empowering well supported births, lots of waterbirth, woman leading their care and lots more success at breastfeeding than when women are in the clinical non-homelike environment of the hospital.

​This facility without a doubt should be supported by the DHB, they should be providing service choice that is evidence based for best care which a Birth Centre is.

If the Hutt Valley DHB does not start funding Te Awakairangi they are doing a disservice to the birthing community families to whom they are mandated to provide evidence-based best service choice. This Birth Centre serves well all demographics as it allows a more woman centred rather than facility centred model of care. There is more calm safe birth in a Birth Centre than in a hospital environment.

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Michelle, from Petone, shares the highs and lows of navigating our broken maternity system in the Hutt, when she was pregnant with baby Flynn

24/8/2021

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I gave birth to my first child in January of this year and was very fortunate to be able to give birth at the birthing centre. Although at times it didn't look like this was going to be possible.

When finding out I was pregnant at only a few weeks, I called my GP and he recommended I look for a midwife asap. It was really important to us that we had continuity of care, during prenatal, labour, and postnatal, so we were looking for a community LMC.

Our first choice was to have a midwife that was able to birth at the Birthing Centre. If we couldn't find one available, then our second choice was to have a community LMC so we'd still ensure continuity of care. Third option was to pay for an Obstetrician. And the last choice was to go through the hospital midwife group as this meant we'd be unsure who we'd see at appointments and more concerning for us, being unsure who would be there during labour.

You might be wondering why continuity of care was so important to us, this was because we wanted the process to be as relaxed and enjoyable as possible as we believed this would give us the best outcome when it came to the birth of our precious first child (the most natural birth with as little intervention as possible). This is the same reason we wanted to labour at the birthing unit.

The hunt began... I called and emailed numerous midwives to find most were already completely booked for our estimated due date - this was very surprising (and concerning) given I was only six weeks pregnant. It all became pretty stressful as I kept hunting day after day for someone to guide us through this unknown journey. I called, emailed, asked for recommendations, looked at local midwife pages, searched social media - all to get the same response, no one was available to help us.

After a few weeks we finally found a midwife who was a part of a new continuity group the DHB/Lower Hutt Hospital had pulled together - a group of midwives that would work in a similar way community midwives work, meaning we would get to see the same person for our appointments and they would also be there for the birth (all going to plan). We met this lady and felt comfortable to have her as our midwife - luckily, as we didn't have much choice. However, this meant I wouldn't be able to use the birthing unit which was upsetting for us. All was going until unfortunately, when I was 20 weeks pregnant this midwife called with some bad news - the hospital was disbanding the group as two of the midwives had left due to being overworked. I was left with no midwife and was extremely concerned that it would be impossible to find someone at this stage in the pregnancy when I had found it hard at the beginning... After speaking to a friend who had recently had a baby, she said she would ask her midwife if there was any chance she would be able to support us. We were very lucky that she said she would squeeze us in given our unfortunate circumstances.

We met with the second midwife, she was extremely lovely and knowledgeable and we felt comfortable with her - again we were lucky this was the case. The best part, she was registered to use the birthing unit! We worked with this midwife up until I was 40 weeks 3 days, when I received a call from her to say she needed to leave the industry immediately.
You can imagine how upsetting this was for us (and her) given how late in the pregnancy I was. We were very lucky that she had found someone to take over and we met with the new midwife that day - again, another amazing lady came to save the day. This midwife was also registered at the birthing unit, we were so happy this was the case as we'd mentally prepared ourselves that this is where our baby would be born.

Fast forward to the big event (I'll spare you all the details), after many hours in labour we arrived at the birthing unit - the room was ready for our arrival (lights dimmed, warm, bed ready, bath running), the staff were there to greet us, it was quiet and calm - I instantly felt relaxed. The environment was exactly what I had imagined would help me through the birth of our first child. I never felt at risk or like I wasn't receiving a high level of support. I had quite a long labour but we got there in the end - our beautiful baby boy was born with no intervention (from what I know I don't believe this would have been the case had we been at the hospital).

We spent the next two nights in the birthing centre and the support only got better. There were so many benefits in using the birthing centre - I was delivered delicious nutritious food and drinks which was so important after the energy used during labour, we were offered continuous support to help us with the unknowns of being first time parents, there was plenty of room for our guests who were made to feel very welcome, it continued to be quiet and calm meaning we were able to get much needed rest, and best of all my husband was able to stay with us in a queen size bed - an absolute game changer! No one wants their husband to have to leave them after the most amazing (and strenuous) event of their lives!!

The room had everything we needed and the staff were always available very quickly when we needed them. Although labour is not a pleasant thing to go through, the experience was positive given it was here and I was so grateful to use this facility for so many reasons - most of all for the caring, nurturing, calming environment.

I truly believe that things would have been much different if we'd been at the hospital.

These midwives are doing a phenomenal job, they carry so much responsibility bringing our precious babies into this world, and they continuously dig so deep to give the families they support everything they have. It would be an absolute waste for this facility to be closed.

The focus should be flipped to work on how it can be utilised more so others can look back on their experience as I do.

Please save the birthing centre - if we ever have a second child, there is no other place we'd want to bring them into this crazy world!

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Alice from Silverstream about her 2nd birth at the Birth Centre, pictured here with baby Eliza

24/8/2021

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Although I had hoped for a natural birth, my first baby was induced and then arrived via c-section. 

When I was pregnant with my second child, I knew I wanted to do everything I could to help achieve my dream of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).

I knew that the environment where I gave birth would be important and the birthing centre was, to me, the perfect place.

I had an amazing birth; bringing my daughter into the world in the water and then sharing a blissful three hours of skin to skin with my new baby and partner is an experience I'll never forget.

From the first appointment held at the centre to the day we walked out with our daughter, we were supported by amazing people whose focus was completely on empowering women to have a positive birth experience.

Throughout my labour, birth and the rest of my stay, I felt as though every person there was cheering me on, celebrating my journey and doing everything they could to make me feel like a goddess. I felt so relaxed and loved that we could take the lead and do things exactly how we wanted as parents. My partner was just as well supported and celebrated as I was. And the food was amazing!

This birthing centre is so important. A place where women are empowered and celebrated as new mamas.  It absolutely needs to be around. My hope is that women for many years to come can welcome their babies into the world in the same gentle, supportive environment that I did.

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Sarah from Waiwhetu birthed Z & Q at the Birthing Centre

24/8/2021

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I suffered from perinantal anxiety and the ability to birth both my children at the Birthing Centre with minimal intervention, with the knowledge that my husband could be there to support me (both in terms of being able to stay with me after the birth and being able to be present at the birth of our second child during COVID times) was invaluable and saved my mental health.

The aftercare following the birth was amazing, the food was excellent, the staff were attentive the facilities, equipment and space allowed me to recover and prepare for the fourth trimester in a way that neither hospital nor my home environment would have allowed (particularly with the birth of my second child - being able to birth at the centre rather than at home meant that my older child could remain at our home in familiar surroundings which meant one less thing for me to worry about).
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Kelsey from Upper Hutt talks about her two births, the first in Hutt hospital, the second in the Birthing Centre - Chalk and Cheese experiences!

23/8/2021

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Showed up already probably 8-9cm dilated, an angel midwife of Indian decent grabbed me into her arms at 5:15am. I remember feeling instant relief and safety.

She gently took me to my room where it was dimmed lights and I could hear the bath running. My midwife turned up and I literally got into the bath and pushed him out at 5:38am.

I was so blessed to have such a calm environment, unlike my first who was induced and I was poked and prodded for days to get her out.

To have such a relaxed environment made me feel safe, nurtured and empowered to do it alone.

With my first I turned up to the hospital in labour and due to the rushed/business like environment everything stopped. My partner didn't even receive a mattress for the 3 nights I stayed. After giving birth my partner had to go home, as in the hospital he couldn't sleep on the floor. I cried the entire night and the midwife at the hospital said sorry they couldn't take my baby to help me sleep because they were too busy.

Chalk and cheese experiences. I am so grateful I could deliver my second baby at the Birthing Centre. I was empowered by this birth, not traumatized like my first.

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Orapai (Leith) Porter-Samuels talking about why we need to save the Birthing Centre...

23/8/2021

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Orapai's background is whānau whānui mahi in the community, midwifery, antenatal tutor in both pakeha settings and kaupapa Māori wananga on the marae. Orapai started a family young and has four generations in their Whānau.
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Becky from Belmont talking about the birth of Isaac

23/8/2021

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The birthing centre was such a great start for our third child.

The staff and facilities enabled us to spend much needed time together to bond with our new baby and feel cared for - we couldn’t have imagined how valuable or precious that time would be.

It made such a difference to the health and well-being of our family and we sincerely hope that it can remain open to improve health outcomes for other families in our region.

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