Birth Hub - the Birth Centres for Wellington Project
  • Home
  • Who are we?
    • Our Vision & Mission
    • Hub Gatherings & Activities >
      • Hub Gatherings
      • Activities & Events
  • Save Our Birth Centre
    • Birth Centre Stories
    • FAQs
    • Homebirth
  • Research & Reports
    • Research
    • Useful Docs
    • Media
  • Contact Us

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

7/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
​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 bare 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.

0 Comments

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

0 Comments

 
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.

Picture
0 Comments

Nicole from Wainuiomata, Mum to Zeke & Māia Heron

6/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
​

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.

Picture
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.
​

Picture
​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
0 Comments

Paula from Fairfield birthed Lottie Iris at the Birthing Centre

6/9/2021

0 Comments

 
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. 

0 Comments

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

5/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.

0 Comments

Grace from Lower Hutt birthing Saige

4/9/2021

0 Comments

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

Picture
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.

0 Comments

Ritisha from Upper Hutt birthed Dhiyaan at the Birth Centre

3/9/2021

0 Comments

 
​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%! 
​

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.
0 Comments

Hinetaapora from Tawa birthed Arihia at the Birthing Centre

3/9/2021

0 Comments

 
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.

0 Comments

Christina from Kelson, who birthed Paige at the Birth Centre

2/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
Picture
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.

0 Comments

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

1/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.

Picture
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.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Birth Hub

    August 2021 - we're now working alongside a group of committed individuals from the birthing community in the Hutt Valley (parents, midwives, childbirth educators, natural therapists etc.) who are volunteering their time and resources to  SAVE the only home-like (well hotel-like!) Birth Centre in Wellington which is in Melling, Lower Hutt. 

    These are the stories that have been shared with us from birthing whanau who have used the Centre, and from those that work there.

    Archives

    September 2021
    August 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.