I chose to birth at the Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre because I work at the hospital and know how busy the maternity ward is there.
I also didn’t feel confident birthing at home especially where I live as it is rural. I loved that I could have another option for where I wanted to birth. I had all my prenatal checks with my midwife at Te Awakairangi so I became familiar with the facility before I gave birth which I found really helpful.
I laboured for many hours at home until I started active labour when I was then told by my midwife to make my way to the birth centre. When I arrived the bath had already been run for me so I got straight into that. My birth was very long and difficult, I had 2 midwives, a student midwife, my mum and my husband all helping me get through. My beautiful boy was finally delivered safe and sound.
I stayed for 2 nights which were just amazing. The staff were so helpful and gave me all the time that I needed, the food was incredible! I have never eaten so well in my life!
The postnatal care I received was 5 star… after going through the hardest experience of my life to then being looked after like royalty helped me get through.
When I went home after my stay at Te Awakairangi I felt confident as a first time mum, I was also rested and my body was well fueled again. On the day of discharge the midwife spent time with me making sure I felt confident, answered my questions, showed me how to put my baby in his car seat correctly and I was given a goodie bag with a beautiful book, some nappies and a certificate to say that my son was birthed there.
I also didn’t feel confident birthing at home especially where I live as it is rural. I loved that I could have another option for where I wanted to birth. I had all my prenatal checks with my midwife at Te Awakairangi so I became familiar with the facility before I gave birth which I found really helpful.
I laboured for many hours at home until I started active labour when I was then told by my midwife to make my way to the birth centre. When I arrived the bath had already been run for me so I got straight into that. My birth was very long and difficult, I had 2 midwives, a student midwife, my mum and my husband all helping me get through. My beautiful boy was finally delivered safe and sound.
I stayed for 2 nights which were just amazing. The staff were so helpful and gave me all the time that I needed, the food was incredible! I have never eaten so well in my life!
The postnatal care I received was 5 star… after going through the hardest experience of my life to then being looked after like royalty helped me get through.
When I went home after my stay at Te Awakairangi I felt confident as a first time mum, I was also rested and my body was well fueled again. On the day of discharge the midwife spent time with me making sure I felt confident, answered my questions, showed me how to put my baby in his car seat correctly and I was given a goodie bag with a beautiful book, some nappies and a certificate to say that my son was birthed there.
If I am to have a second baby, I want to birth there again.
I’m very sad that this beautiful centre is possibly closing down. It is such an asset for women in our region. Birth should never be under rated, it takes such a huge physical, emotional and mental toll on your body and to be somewhere where you feel safe, well looked after, given the time to learn, rest and recover in a beautiful hotel like facility is just so wonderful.
