Midwifes - West Auckland
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Topic: Midwifes - West Auckland
Posted By: sem
Subject: Midwifes - West Auckland
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 3:33am
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It is very early days for me but I was wondering how to go about finding a midwife. We live in West Auckland and this is our first pregnancy.
I just did a google search and to be honest am surprised how few came up! There is a website called "midwives out west" which lists only three! 
As I understand there is a shortage of midwifes but I really feel like I want to have say in who I choose - is this an option or do you just take who is available? I am all new to this so am wondering what other options I have? Is a LMC there for the birth as well? How do I go about finding them? ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way! 
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Replies:
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 8:14am
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Hi Susyl
I asked on here for midwife recommendations, but also did some hunting on the internet and that's how I found mine. I also contacted Mama Maternity and they sent out a pack with a huge list of midwives in Auckland, you could try that. They also have a great Q&A section for LMC care, your options etc. Here is the link: http://www.mama-maternityinfo.co.nz/ - Mama Maternity You definitely should have a say in who you choose, you just need to be very quick about contacting the midwives to see who's available and visit them asap. I started looking when I was 7 weeks and found it difficult to find someone who was available. Your LMC will definitely be there for the birth (unless they are at another birth, or on leave etc. and you will have their back up who you should be introduced to at some stage throughout your pregnancy). All the very best!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 9:29am
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Your LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) can be a midwife, GP or Ostetritian (sp??), although I believe that all obs and GPs work with a mw as well. As MrsEmma mentioned your LMC will generally be with you from the time you first meet them through to about 6wks after birth as well as the birth itself.
I would highly recommend The Midwives in Godley Rd, Green Bay ph 825 0333. I would ring them now, especially if you want to do a little looking around. Glenda Southey was my mw for Ben and I would see her again if we have #3, I cannot say enough how ansolutely brilliant she was. Friends and family have also been there and have been very happy with Terri, Kirsten, Carly and Abby Congrats and good luck ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 9:50am
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Thanks for this.
We are in the Swanson area - would Greenbay be to far away? Do they mind traveling a bit? Also, seeing this is our first time pregnant I have no idea of what direction I want to take, ie natural or drugs or CS. So will find it hard to choose a midwife at this stage I think. What was important to you when choosing a MW? Off to the bookshops to do some reading today... ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:25am
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We live in Swanson and I travelled to Green Bay for my appointments. Some of them live this way and they all birth at Waitakere. You could also look at Helensville Birthing Centre for either the birth ("The Midwives" can't deliever there though) or for your post natal care which is what I did with Ben.
I don't think any mw's do elective cs unless it becomes necessary closer to you DD, altho someone correct me if I am wrong. Just explain that you aren't sure and they should let you know how they tend to work. I think you will get a gut feel as to whether you click with them or not. ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:31am
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It will depend where you want to birth as well.. if you want to use birthcare then you will need to find out if they can deliver there as well as at Waitakere Hospital...
I think you will find some shore mw also look after waitakere (same health board) so that may be something to look at too 
You need to go them for your antenatal check ups and they come to you for your post natal care. -------------   
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 10:52am
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I love my midwife whose name is Gail Kiss - I have a lot of faith in her having had 7 babies herself. Her clinics are run from James Laurie Street in Glendene. If you want her details let me know. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 12:12pm
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I've heard good things about the MWs at West Auckland Midwives (google it).
------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Smelly_Kelly
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 1:48pm
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My MW is Kerry Martin at The Midwives on godley Road in green bay, shes awesome, could not recommend her enough :) they birth at waitak and birthcare. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/392aa6"> 
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 21 February 2010 at 8:55pm
I used Angela Scott for my two, she is amazing. PM if you want her number 
She is in Norval Road just by Waitak Hospital |
Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 11:02am
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I would also recommend The Midwives in Greenbay. They are fabulous.
Abbe is my midwife.  her. She missed out on Harper's birth so we had Kerry Martin who was her backup at the time and Glenda Southey. They were fantastic. We had a surprise homebirth which I was thrilled about but DH has a tendancy to freak out. Kerry had it all under control and made DH feel really at ease. Glenda is absolutely lovely, one of the nicest, warm and caring ladies I have ever met. A few of the girls from our group had her and they absolutely adore her. Kirsten is also really really lovely.
They run their own antenatal classes if you want to go which are superb. They are funny and cover a lot of things, normal natural births, what if scenarios, breast feeding, coping afterwards. They also take the men seperately and teach them how to bath and change a nappy. Made the men feel a bit special that they had something that they could give us women 'tips' on. They are also really good because everyone came from the same area so our 'wine group' has become a very good group of friends. They can deliver at Waitakere, Auckland and Birthcare and Abbe booked us in to all 3 just in case. They go with the flow when it comes to birth plans which I really liked coz it suited me well. There, have I rambled on enough?? I think so. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 7:38pm
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Thanks for all your suggestions and tips!
After reading and searching a little bit online I think I have figured out a few things which I think are important to me: I want somebody to give me all possible options and gives me guidance in which direction I want to go I don't nescessary want an "all natural, beautiful experience and/or homebirth" I want somebody who will look after me and gives me the nesecary drugs if I want/need them I don't want my husband to be expected to be "hands on" during the birth or to be pressured to be there I don't want to be "forced" into BF and made to feel guilty if I choose to bottle or formula feed ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 22 February 2010 at 8:37pm
That website you are talking about is just one practice, rather than a website that lists the midwives in West Auckland. They used to be Maternity Matters but 3 out if 4 of them left to form a new practice. We used Linda Norman from there and she would fit in with the things you're after. She let me have all the drugs I wanted (which was all of them) and DH would go off when I got injections etc and she didn't expect him to be there. I didn't go through the pushing part but I assume she'd have been fine with him staying away from the business end which was what he wanted - in the end he sat in the waiting room while I had the c-section instead ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:26am
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Anyone know why MM split?? I went there for #1 but wouldn't go back.
And yeah, I'm amazed how few have websites esp these days when websites are most people's first method of research. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:35am
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Flissty - can I ask why you would not go back to MM (Maternity Matters I assume)? Which midwife did you see and what was your experience? ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 9:12am
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PMed rather than posted. Would rather not go into the specifics publicly. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 10:29am
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And all the midwives at West Auckland Midwives are lovely as I work along side them in the same premises. I did ask Debbie Ross to be my midwife, but she was going to be away around the time I was due.
Why don't you arrange to meet with a couple before you decide? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 5:20pm
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Have contacted Linda Norman last night and got a call from Helen this morning as Linda is on holiday. She has given me an appointment to meet Linda in about 3 weeks but has already told me they'd be ok with taking me on.
She mentioned there are 3 MW's who work as a team and if my MF would have her day off when I'm in labour I'd be having on of the others. Is this how all MW's work, ie having a back up MW just in case? Each of the MW at this practice take on 6-7 cases per month - is this the norm? Will def be trying to arrange to meet a couple of others to decide what I want to do. ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 5:44pm
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Thats about right Susyl, they work as a pair or team incase your mw is having her day off when you go into labour. You will meet the back up along the way (particularily if your mw is on leave or at a birth LOL when your appt is).
Most dont like to take on too many per month so they dont get too busy to give good care... incidently my mw had all her april and 4 of her may give birth by the time Jake was born.. April 6  Thats why they dont take on too many.... in case alot go into labour at the same time (5 in 48 hours for my mw and her partner the weekend Jake was born).-------------
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Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 5:50pm
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So do you think 6-7 sounds about right or is this to many? ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: Smelly_Kelly
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 6:34pm
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nope sounds right. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/392aa6">
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:18pm
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Yeah I think that is a relatively normal load although I am sure that Glenda told me she has a lighter load of maybe 4 births a month ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:32pm
Debbie Ross was my m/w and she was fantastic! I would have given up b/f if it wasn't for Debbies wonderful support after Lauren was born! Also her back up Bunny Cummings is awesome. She delivered nearly all the babies in my coffee group and I had a few check ups with her when Debbie was overseas. PM me if you need numbers of either of these two lovely m/w's! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Red wrote:Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 8:34am
I contacted Bunny Cummings and she called me last night. We had a very nice and very long chat and she sounds like what I was looking for. Made my first appointment with her when I'm 10 weeks! 
She works from home wich is just around the corner from us, only delivers at Waitakere which is great because as she says should another woman be in labour at the same time as me she is always close by! ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 9:32am
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That is lucky Susy - Bunny fills up really fast! I have talked to her before as well and she is lovely, she won midwife of the year through the Parent Centre last year. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 9:43am
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Great! This makes me feel so much better already! Thanks for letting me know this. ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
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Posted By: Btassh
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 3:36pm
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I see you've found a midwife. Was going to suggest you just go to waitakere hospital they have quite a few there.
My midwife is there shes fantastic as is the back up. Her names Katarina unsure of the back ups name but they are both lovely ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 4:53pm
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Awesome Susyl, Bunny is a lovely m/w! SO glad you got in with her cause she books up really really fast!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 13 March 2010 at 4:46pm
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Has anyone used Midwives out west? Helen Bryant and Linda Norman how did you find them.
I'm having to find mine mostly by phone and email as I won't be able to meet them till at the earliest June. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 13 March 2010 at 7:22pm
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Sorry caliandjack I haven't heard of those midwives before.
I really like my midwife - I have a lot of confidence in her as she has had 7 babies herself Her name is Gail Kiss.------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 14 March 2010 at 3:20pm
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Caliand Jack I haven't heard of those either, but check out www.babyontheway.co.nz, has soem info and their email + phone numbers.
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 14 March 2010 at 5:56pm
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Thanks misscheeky think I am going to go with Angela she seems really lovely and switched on. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 14 March 2010 at 7:07pm
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I had Linda Norman as my LMC, and Helen as her back up when they were at Maternity Matters, so I saw both of them. Linda was pretty good - very gentle approach, though veered towards a more laid-back, hands-off kind of style, so probably wouldn't suit everyone.
Helen Bryant is also a very distinct 'type' of person, and again, wouldn't suit everyone. I found her very brusque and matter of fact. I actually freaked out a bit at the idea of her being there during labour because of her manner - but in retrospect I think she would have been great. And was really nice in the follow up care. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 14 March 2010 at 8:03pm
We had Linda too and these descriptions are great, though still not sure I would have wanted Helen at the birth but I did feel better about her during the follow up care (though prefered Linda). ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: Thirdtime
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 8:40pm
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I had Linda as my LMC and Heather ended up being at the birth. I agree with Linda's gentle approach and totally agree with Helen being a very distinct type of person and am not sure how she would have been during the labour. May I ask how those of you found Linda to be for your delivery? Feel free to PM me if you prefer. I totally believe everyone's experience is their own individual opinion but feedback is always good. Thanks in advance
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 8:45pm
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Really good during the labour. Clear, got assistance when it was needed. Very gentle and coachy without being pushy. I was just a bit annoyed at being told I needed to have a shower now because she wanted to go home. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 9:26pm
I had Helen 13 years ago with my first daughter... and she was absolutely awesome ... she was so great during the pregnancy when I was struggling with the huge amount of weight I gained and during labour she was the best... there were Drs at the door trying to come in with forceps and she encouraged me to push soooo much that they weren't needed in the end... but it was damn close and it was her encouragement that made the difference... she's just lovely ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: JaneyDay
Date Posted: 29 June 2011 at 10:43pm
| I totally know what you mean about Helen but her manner totally worked for me and my 1st pregnancy. Especially after having my second child up north where I had a total fluff of a midwife. I've just moved back to Auckland and tried to get Helen again as I am now 20 weeks pregnant but she was completely booked :( So now I've come looking for someone else, if anyone has any good recommendations. I'm not sure who Linda is, I don't think she was Helen's partner with my first pregnancy but what I can remember with Helen was she was very straight up but also very supportive during my birth and her experience was very comforting. I think sometimes it just comes down to whether your personalities work together or clash. |
Posted By: Cinderella
Date Posted: 30 June 2011 at 12:40pm
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have a 3 page list of MW in west auckland if anyone needs it.
I don't think I can add a PDF file on here but if anyone wants I can email it to them or you can ph Contact Centre on 0800 686 223. The hours are between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with the exception of Wednesday when the hours are between 9.30am and 5pm. They will send you a list of all registered MW in your area. |
Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 30 June 2011 at 6:05pm
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Angela at Baby on the Way is fantastic. Rochelle and Michelle seem really nice as well though I only had them for appointments that Angela couldn't make. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: dixie
Date Posted: 21 July 2011 at 12:32pm
| My MW is Jackie Vaughan. She is awesome so far. She does Waitakere hospital, Helensville Birthing Centre and homebirths. Her clinic is on Lincoln Rd by Hospital. |
Posted By: NewMummyJade
Date Posted: 21 July 2011 at 5:55pm
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I had Linda Norman for my 1st pregnancy and again this time.
With DD I ended up at Auckland with a new MW for the last 13 weeks of pregnancy due to GDM. She did my post natal care tho and was fantastic. I cant stand Helen. If she was to ever be at one of my births I might punch her. She is just NOT my type of person fullstop. She visited for one of my postnatal checks and I told Linda flat out that I wouldnt have her touch my baby again! I met Heather Donald before choosing Linda and didnt click with her at all ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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