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More information about Midwives

New Zealand midwives work in a partnership model of care with women. In this model each woman and her midwife are partners, working together to ensure that the woman has care that best meets her individual needs. The woman and the midwife get to know each other well over the whole maternity experience, building a relationship of trust with each other, sharing information and decision-making and recognising the active role that both play in the woman’s maternity care.

The building of relationships between midwives and women during pregnancy contributes to many women’s sense of security in labour. Women are discovering that the safest places to give birth are at home or in a birthing centre. Only a few women actually need to give birth in hospital because of complications. Women are most likely to labour best in a place where they feel free, safe and private, with midwives whom they know and trust. For most women this will be at home or in a birthing centre where they can be in control of who is there and what happens.

Midwives care is founded on respect for normal pregnancy and birth as healthy processes and profound events in a woman’s life and that of her family. Women and their families are finding out that they can benefit from the care of a midwife. They are learning that pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes, not illnesses. We know that midwifery care results in less chance of complications, fewer interventions, and healthier births for themselves and their babies.

Midwife means ‘with women’

Midwifery care is the provision of knowledge, advice, care and support to women and their families during pregnancy, labour and birth and the early weeks following birth

Midwives: providing safe outcomes for women and babies

The World Health Organisation states that... ‘the midwife is the most appropriate and cost effective type of health care provider to be assigned to the care of normal pregnancy and normal birth, including risk assessment and the recognition of complications’ (WHO 1996)

Midwives: the ‘experts’ in their field

Pregnancy and labour are seen as normal life events which occur within the life of a family - this is the focus of the midwife’s expertise. 88% of women had ‘normal’ births where the midwife was the lead maternity carer and 86% were still breastfeeding at six weeks (NZCOM 1996).

Midwives: the 'core' of the maternity service

All women having babies require midwifery care. Midwives provide the ‘core’ of the care in the maternity service. They work with obstetric specialists as needed

Midwives: enabling women to make informed decisions

Midwives offer a range of information on which women can make decisions about their care. A supportive relationship enables the woman to make decisions that are right for her and her family

Midwives: there to provide one-to-one support and care during labour

Midwives are the primary caregiver for women during labour; providing care that facilitates the natural process of labour whenever possible. Labour support and care are enhanced by the benefits of a relationship established during pregnancy.

Midwives: providing continuity of care

Midwives provide continuity of care from conception to discharge at four - six weeks after the baby is born.

You can find out about midwives in your area on our find a midwife page.