Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated May 2025

The team

Where are you based?
    My clinic is at Leading Midwifery Care, 47A Fraser Street, Tauranga. There is parking and a waiting room on site.
What areas do you cover?
    I cover central Tauranga and the surrounding suburbs: Welcome Bay/Ohauiti/Pyes Pa/ Bethlehem/Otumoetai/etc. If you have had me as a midwife before then please get in touch regardless of where you live.
Does anyone else work with you?
    At times we will need to call in a locum to care for our clients while we are away and this is often at short notice if we or our children are sick. A locum is a midwife who will come in for a set period (usually 24 hours) and be on call for our clients during this time for if they are in labour or need urgent care. We recognise that this isn’t ideal for clients who are labouring, but is an unavoidable reality, and we have a pool of experienced, competent, kind midwives to call on when we need to.

    We also sometimes have students working with us – please see the ‘students’ section below for more information.

More about me

Do you have children?
What education do you have?
    My primary midwifery training was completed at AUT in Auckland and I graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery at the end of 2010. I was admitted to the NZ register of midwives upon completion of this.

    In 2017 I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery through Otago Polytechnic with specific interest papers: Maternal mental health, Diabetes in pregnancy, Nutrition in pregnancy, and Global midwifery and safe motherhood.

    All midwives in New Zealand are required to engage with ongoing education. We revise and update maternity emergency situations and also complete special interest education days every year.

How experienced are you?
    I have worked across the scope of midwifery practice in New Zealand. Straight after graduating I completed the Counties Manukau DHB new graduate midwifery programme in which I worked on rotation at Middlemore Hospital in the assessment, labour, and birthing unit (ALBU) and the high risk antenatal and postnatal ward, and at Botany Downs primary maternity unit. I continued working part time at Middlemore Hospital for 5 years. In 2016 I moved home to Tauranga and worked at Bethlehem Birthing Centre for a few months. In 2018 I started working as a Lead Maternity Carer and continued working until 2024, when I moved to the community midwifery team at Tauranga Hospital for a change. I worked in the community team for a year and I’m now back working as an LMC and am looking forward to following families through their entire maternity experience again.
What is your midwifery philosophy?
    I believe strongly that women and their families should be supported to know about their bodies and the choices they have in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. My goal is to provide you with clear and appropriate information and education so that you feel well prepared for what is to come and can make the decisions you need when the timing is right for you.
How many clients do you take on at a time?
    I currently book about 3 clients each month, with scheduled time off every year over the summer school holidays when I don’t have any expected births. This is considered a part time caseload.
Do you have space to take me on as a client?
    I have an availability calendar at Find Your Midwife which I do my best to keep up to date. To book with me, please make contact with me by filling in the booking form on this website.
What’s the best way to contact you?
    For non-urgent questions, please text me. If it’s complex then you’re welcome to briefly explain what your question is and I’ll call you to discuss when I can. If your question is minor and can wait then please write it down (so you don’t forget) and ask it at our next appointment. For urgent things, please always call. When I am off call, my phone is forwarded to the midwife who is covering me, so when you call my phone it will always be answered by a midwife.

Maternity care in New Zealand

What do midwives do?
Who is eligible for free care?
    All maternity care in New Zealand is free for NZ citizens, permanent residents of NZ and Australia, people holding a work visa that is for two years or longer, and people in a relationship with someone who fills any of these categories.
Are there any extra costs?
    The only things you may need to pay for are part charges for some scans – see the section on what to expect in pregnancy below. There are some optional extras that you will need to pay for yourself – NIPT screening, gender scans, and 3D scans.

What to expect in pregnancy

How often will I see you?
    We usually meet for the first time in pregnancy around 10 weeks. after that, the standard schedule for antenatal visits is:
      - every 4-6 weeks until 28 weeks
      - every 2-3 weeks until 36 weeks
      - every 1-2 weeks until your baby is born
    though this can easily be adjusted if and when needed.

    At about 36 weeks we usually discuss your birth preferences, where we consolidate the things you’ve learned in your antenatal classes and make note of specific things you do or don’t want for your labour and birth.

    Postnatally, we usually visit you 7-10 times after your baby is born, dependant on how you birth your baby (vaginal birth or caesarean) and whether you or your baby experience any difficulties during or after birth. Postnatal visits are most commonly on days 1, 2, 5, and 10, and then weekly after that until your baby is 4-5 weeks old. After this your Well Child provider takes over your baby’s care alongside your GP.
What blood tests are recommended?
    Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you will be asked to complete some initial antenatal bloods. Blood tests in the Bay of Plenty are always done at Pathlab. The standard blood tests we recommend in pregnancy are:
       – Haemoglobin (your circulating iron)
       – Ferritin (your stored iron)
       – Platelets
       – Red blood cell antibodies
    – Syphilis

    In your initial antenatal bloods we also check your blood group and we do some screening for infections. The infections we check for are all things that we can manage in pregnancy if you have them, and they are all things that can affect babies if they are not treated in pregnancy. These are:
       – HIV
       – Hepatitis B
       – Rubella
    We also do a diabetes check at this initial antenatal screening (HbA1c).

    Your blood group will be either positive or negative. If it is negative, this has implications for your pregnancy which you can read more about in this pamphlet from NZ Blood.

    The next set of blood tests we ask you to do is around 24-28 weeks, and this includes another diabetes screen which you can read about on the Health NZ website.

    The third set of bloods we ask you to do is at about 36 weeks, and is just the standard blood tests mentioned above.

    If there are concerns with blood pressure, diabetes, bleeding, or something else in your pregnancy, we may ask you to do extra blood tests. We will discuss this with you at the time as needed.
What scans are recommended?
    There are two standard scans that we recommend everybody have in pregnancy. These are the nuchal scan, which is done at around 12 weeks and is part of Maternal Serum Screening, and the anatomy scan, which is done at about 20 weeks. If you are unsure of your due date then you may be advised to have a dating scan early in your pregnancy also, but these are not recommended to be done unless necessary.

    Growth scans are recommended to have in your third trimester if there are any significant health concerns for you or your baby prior to or during pregnancy. It is quite common to be advised to have growth scans so don’t be concerned if this is something I discuss with you.

    There are three providers of pregnancy ultrasound scans in Tauranga:
       Bay Radiology (Tauranga, Mount, Papamoa, and Pyes Pa)
       I-MED (11th Ave and Domain Road, Papamoa)
       Bethlehem Ultrasound (Bethlehem)

    The part charge for scans is usually between $40 and $75 – the links above take you to each provider’s pricing page.

    There are two options for private scans that you can have in pregnancy. The first is a gender scan which is offered by Bethlehem Ultrasound and Bay Radiology from 16 weeks. The cost for this is $80 and you self refer for it. The second is to have a 3D scan, which are offered at some of the places listed above. Please get in touch with them to find out more.
What about screening for chromosomal abnormalities?
    The main screening we offer for chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome is the Maternal Serum Screening, which is recommended at the end of the first trimester. About a week after you have completed the scan and blood test for this screening, your result will be returned to me. It will either have a ‘low chance’ or ‘high chance’ result. If it comes back as low chance then you carry on with your pregnancy and we don’t offer any further assessment except the anatomy scan. If you have a high chance result then you will be offered an amniocentesis which is done through the Maternal Fetal Medicine service in Auckland, usually at around 15 weeks. This is a diagnostic test and will clearly say whether your baby has one of the chromosomal abnormalities they test for or not. If it is positive, they will offer you the option of continuing your pregnancy or terminating your pregnancy. If the amniocentesis comes back negative, you carry on with your pregnancy as normal.

    Your other option for chromosomal screening is to do the NIPT test. This is a screen, just like the maternal serum screening, but is more specific and accurate in the estimation of whether you have a baby with chromosomal abnormalities or not. There is significant cost associated with this screen (about $700) and it can be done through Pathlab or Illumiscreen. If you have a high chance MSS1 result then the NIPT is offered as a funded screen prior to the amniocentesis if you choose.
How long is pregnancy?
    A normal pregnancy will last between 37 and 42 weeks. The day we call your ‘due date’ is the day you will be 40 weeks pregnant, but it is normal to labour any time from when you are term (37 weeks). Most people labour naturally some time between 40 and 41 weeks. At Tauranga Hospital, induction of labour is offered to women who have reached 41 weeks and not yet laboured. You can read more about induction of labour on the RANZCOG website.
What can’t I eat?
    There are some bacteria like listeria and salmonella that don’t make adults very sick when we are infected but which can severely impact your baby if you have them when you are pregnant. for this reason, we recommend that you avoid certain foods while you are pregnant. There is a comprehensive list available on the MPI website, and more information at Health Navigator NZ.
When should I feel my baby move?
    Most people feel their baby move for the first time around 18-22 weeks. It is common to start feeling your baby’s movements settle into a pattern and you should start to familiarise yourself with this. In the early weeks of feeling movements there is still space for the baby to move down towards your pelvis or to turn backwards, and if that happens you may not feel your baby move as much for a while. From 28 weeks of pregnancy we consider your baby’s movements to be the best indicator of their wellbeing and we ask you to contact us if you are concerned that your baby’s movements have significantly reduced or stopped altogether. Read more here.
What vaccines should I get in pregnancy?
    When you are pregnant you have a lower immune system so are more likely to be affected by things like the flu, and more likely to catch them. To keep you and your baby safe, this vaccine is funded for pregnant women. It is only offered between about April and September, but we advise you to visit your local pharmacy to have this when you can.

    We recommend that anyone who will spend time around newborn babies be vaccinated against whooping cough, and in pregnancy we recommend that you have the vaccine yourself so you can pass your antibodies on to your growing baby. This vaccine is also fully funded for pregnant women and is recommended to be given between 16 and 38 weeks, but earlier is better. The whooping cough vaccine costs about $60 for family members wanting to update their booster, which is recommended to have every ten years. This vaccine is available at most pharmacies. You can book an appointment for your vaccines at Book My Vaccine.
What resources do you recommend for my mental wellbeing?
    It is really common to experience changes in your ability to cope with things when you are pregnant, and antenatal depression and anxiety are often felt. There are significant changes happening in your body, your relationships, your work, and your future outlook, so expect there to be some periods of adjustment as you go through this process. There are also lots of new and changing hormones rushing around your body and causing havoc so give yourself some grace and make sure your support people are aware of how you’re feeling.

    Unfortunately, mental health services in New Zealand are chronically underfunded and significantly understaffed, so there can be difficulty accessing funded mental health support except in times of crisis. There are some good websites with helpful information available though:
       PADA (Perinatal Mental Health NZ)
       Mothers Matter
       Depression NZ
       Mothers Helpers
    and GPs have some ability to refer you for funded counselling if you need. The birthing centre in Bethlehem often have free counselling available with third year counselling students through BTI as well. The other option that a lot of new mums find helpful is to access community support groups, either in person through things like antenatal classes or Plunket, or in online communities like Facebook. A good place to start can be by joining the Tauranga Mummy Matters Facebook page and finding more specific groups from there.
Do you recommend antenatal classes?
    One hundred percent yes! These classes often cover a lot of things that you didn’t think to ask about and it can be very helpful to learn in a group environment. People often make friends in these classes too. There are a few different options for antenatal classes in the Tauranga area.

    Free classes with a practical focus: 
       Parents Centre
       Bethlehem Birthing Centre
       Hapai Mama
       Hei Tiki Pumau Antenatal
       Pirirakau Hauora
    Paid classes with a practical focus: 
       Hatched Antenatal
    Paid classes with a holistic focus: 
       Mothers Circle
       Hypnobirthing
       Empowered Birthing
       Routachment

    We recommend that you book in to antenatal classes that finish when you are about 36 weeks if you can. That way they’re close enough to birth that you will remember most of what you learn, but not too close that you’ll miss some of the classes. Antenatal classes vary in length and you can choose one that best suits your schedule.

Students

What kind of students do you have?
    We regularly have midwifery students who work with us for a period of time – sometimes only a couple of weeks, sometimes for a few months. Occasionally in the hospital there will be medical students on a birth rotation as well. We encourage student involvement – usually having students is good for you, good for us, and good for them.
Is there anything a student can’t do?
    It depends on the student. First year students are learning the basics of midwifery and will not undertake any invasive procedures or be responsible for any decision making. Fourth year students who are about to graduate will be given greater responsibility so they can practice using their midwife brains. Ultimately the responsibility for your care always remains with the midwife who is looking after you, so we will always be supervising any student who is working with us.
What if I change my mind?
    It is always up to you whether you have a student involved in your care at all, and also how hands on they are with this. If you change your mind at any time, just let me know.

Feedback

Where can I provide feedback on the care that I have received from you?
    The best place to do this is through the NZ College of Midwives. This feedback method is anonymous and confidential. I get to see the things you write after it has been reviewed by someone at the college but no identifying information is passed on. At the end of our time together I am required to send you a link to provide feedback through the college, as above, so will do this at the end of your postnatal care. NZCOM are the body who regularly review our practice, and receiving consumer feedback is part of this process. I also love receiving cards from families I work with, and the best feedback I get is when people come back to have another baby with me.
How can I give feedback about care that I have received at the hospital or birthing centre?
    Feedback is always helpful for us to know what we are doing well and where we can improve. The hospital and birthing centre always encourage feedback:
       Tauranga Hospital
       Bethlehem Birthing Centre
How can I complain to the Health and Disability Commissioner?
    You can make a HDC complaint by going to their website and following their process. This is for serious complaints and is often traumatic for all involved, but can be a good way to resolution for if your rights have been ignored. HDC complaints are currently taking many years to be reviewed due to the number of complaints and the shortage of assessors available.

Your rights

In New Zealand, by law, you have rights to:

  • professional care from skilled staff
  • be treated with respect, including respect for your culture, values, beliefs, customs, privacy and confidentiality
  • know how your information is stored and used, and who it will be shared with
  • view any information held about you and to correct it if necessary
  • know about the services that your midwife or specialist doctor provides
  • have everything you need to know carefully explained, and be able to ask any questions you need so that you can make informed decisions about all the care for you and your baby
  • refuse any care offered to you (and to change your mind at any time)
  • have someone with you for support
  • complain about the treatment you receive.

If you have any questions or concerns about your health care, the information you are asked for or your privacy, you should talk to your midwife or specialist doctor.