Lead maternity carers and midwives

A lead maternity carer (LMC) is responsible for your care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. They also care for you and your pēpi (baby) until pēpi is 6 weeks old.

If you have any problems choosing a midwife, please phone maternity administration team 09 276 0044 extension 58187.

Time to find your midwife

Contact information

Physical address:

Birthing and Assessment Unit  
Galbraith Building
Middlemore Hospital
Hospital Road
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland

Mailing address:

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau
Private Bag 93311
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland 1640

Level 2, Galbraith Building, Middlemore Hospital
Ph (09) 276 0262

Level 4, Galbraith Building, Middlemore Hospital
Ph (09) 276 0044 Ext. 58374

Phone: (09) 259 5032

Street Address: 292 Botany Road, Golflands, Auckland 2013

Phone: (09) 299 9102

Street Address: 2-4 Clevedon Road, Papakura, Auckland 2110

Phone: (09) 237 0640

Midwives Office: (09) 237 0638
Charge Midwife Managers Office: (09) 237 0616
Patient Enquiries: (09) 237 0640

Pukekohe Maternity Resource Centre: (09) 237 0629

Street Address: 1 Tuakau Road, Pukekohe, Auckland 2120


Visiting hours

A maximum of two visitors (including children) plus one key support person are allowed between 2pm and 8pm.

One key support person can stay overnight (8pm to 8am) or at all times with prior arrangement for compassionate reasons. Please check with the midwife in charge.

Children under 16 may visit between 2pm and 8pm for compassionate reasons. Please check with the midwife in charge.


Department and Services

The Birthing and Assessment Unit occupies the entire second floor of the Galbraith Building, which is the large building located opposite the train station. This unit operates 24 hours a day, providing care for emergency antenatal and postnatal issues, as well as labor and birth.

Birthing and Assessment Unit (North and South) (external link)

 

The Community Midwifery Service offers ongoing care both before and after the birth of your baby. This service ensures that you receive continuous support and medical attention throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period.

Community Midwifery Service (external link)

The midwives employed by the Counties Manukau Health work collaboratively to ensure continuous care throughout your pregnancy, labor, and postnatal period. A team midwife is available 24/7, providing round-the-clock support. These midwives have easy access to specialists and are based at the Botany Primary Birthing Unit. (external link)

Community Midwifery Service (external link)

The Gynaecology and Obstetric Service, along with the Early Pregnancy and Assessment Clinic (EPAC), offers assessment and care for women up to 20 weeks pregnant. These services ensure that women receive the necessary support and medical attention during the early stages of pregnancy.

 Gynaecology and Obstetric Service (external link)

The Neonatal Care Unit offers intensive and specialized care for newborns who need extra support after birth. This unit is equipped to handle a range of medical needs to ensure the best possible outcomes for these babies.

Kidz First Neonatal Care (external link)

The Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) midwives are a dedicated team of community midwives who provide care for pregnancies with medical or pregnancy complications. They work on referrals from GPs or other health professionals. These midwives collaborate with specialist doctors and run clinics at Middlemore Hospital and Manukau SuperClinic.

Maternal and Fetal Medicine Midwifery Service (external link)

Learning to breastfeed can take time, and it's crucial to get the support you need when and where you need it. If you had your baby at a hospital or birthing unit, you might have been visited by a breastfeeding advocate or lactation consultant. These specialists help with breastfeeding challenges. In addition to whaanau, free community breastfeeding services are available in South Auckland to support you.

Te Rito Ora is a free community service that provides breastfeeding and baby feeding support for up to two years. The team of skilled workers will:

  • support you to prepare for breastfeeding
  • provide infant feeding advice after your baby is born

A lactation consultant is available if you have more complex breastfeeding needs

Contact details:

Find out more information about the Te Rito Ora Service (external link)

All buildings and grounds within Health New Zealand Counties Manukau facilities are smokefree.

If you smoke regularly, your body is used to a steady supply of nicotine. When you stop smoking, it is the withdrawal from nicotine that causes discomfort. We can help you remain smokefree and be comfortable during your stay. To make being smokefree easier, staff can provide nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) as:

  • patches
  • lozenges
  • gum.

Take steps to be smokefree before coming to hospital

If you know about your hospital admission in advance, take steps now to stop smoking. You can talk to your healthcare provider or contact the Living Smokefree Service. It is a one-stop-shop for smoking cessation in Counties Manukau and you can refer yourself:

Living Smokefree Service  Counties Manukau — Healthpoint (external link)

If you are pregnant

If you are pregnant, quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you will ever make for you and your pēpi. Smoking puts your pēpi at risk of many health problems.


Community support services

Counties Manukau offers a variety of classes to support you during your pregnancy. For more details on what each provider offers, please contact them directly. Additionally, your Lead Maternity Carer can help guide you in choosing the right classes for your needs.

Turuki Healthcare (external link) offer a different, more culturally informed option to traditional antenatal class (one-day antenatal wananga held several times each year). Sessions are held at Papakura Marae, Mangere, Pukekohe and Manurewa.  Phone: 09 275 5788 or 0800 427 892

Taonga Education Centre (external link) provides antenatal services, social services and mothers accommodation for teen parents expecting their first baby. Sessions are 2 x 5 hours over two days in Manurewa, Otara and Papakura. Morning tea and lunch provided as well as transport if needed. Phone: 09 269 2861 or 0508 taonga (826 642).

Teen Parent Unit offers a positive and supportive learning environment where academic achievement is a priority. Students have access to on-site social workers, support workers and health carers. Phone: 09 269 2861 or 0508 taonga (826 642).

Birthbalance childbirth and parenting courses (external link). Phone: 021 353 313 

Parents Centre offers variety of programmes throughout the year.

  • Manukau - The Gardens School | Phone: 09 267 1224
  • Papakura | Chapel Street, Papakura. Phone: 09 297 7461
  • Franklin | Phone: 09 283 8513
  • East Auckland  | Phone: 09 537 0560

Plunket offers car seat installations and education to ensure children's safety during all journeys. These installations are available for an affordable fee. Experienced Child Restraint Technicians provide advice, support, and education at our car seat installation and education service sites.

Plunket Car Seat Service near you. (external link) 

If you have diabetes or if it is found during your pregnancy this service will manage this side of your care. Midwives, obstetricians, diabetologists, and dietitians all work to help you control your diabetes. Your LMC or community midwife will usually provide basic midwifery care too.

After baby is born it's important to stay smokefree.  The first six weeks is a time many women find challenging.  Even if you don't smoke around baby, poisons from the cigarettes will stay in your clothes and hair.  Baby will be exposed to these.

Talk to your doctor, midwife, nurse or freephone 0800 569568.

Look at You, - Aroha Atu, Aroha Mai

Babies are social and communicate right from birth. This video supports parents, whaanau and those working with babies to understand their social and emotional needs in the first three months of life.

Feedback

We welcome feedback (compliments, suggestions, enquiries, or complaints) from patients and whānau to help us improve our services.

Contact the Feedback Central Team:

If you have a problem you want sorted straight away, talk with the staff caring for you or ask to speak with a manager in that area.

Counties Manukau Health Feedback Form

Giving birth in a birthing centres or small maternity units

In many places around the country you may also have the choice of a birthing centre or small community hospital maternity unit (called a primary maternity unit).

People who give birth in in these smaller units also tend to use less pain relief and have fewer caesarean sections and forceps than those who give birth in hospital.

Speak to your midwife or doctor about the choices available in your area. You can also look for what is available in your area. 

Find maternity facilities in your area — Ministry of Health (external link)

Your midwife, or the midwife working on behalf of your doctor, will stay with you for at least 2 hours after the birth.

If labour does not go as planned (internal link)

Once your pēpi is born

Some small units also have rooms where you can stay for a couple of days to recover from the birth. While you are there an employed midwife will help you to breastfeed and care for your pēpi. Some small units also let your partner stay with you and pēpi. Ask you midwife about what is available in your area.

Maternity care during and after the birth (internal link)