Margaret Gardener, Dunedin

Address: 19 Flagstaff Road, R.D.1, Dunedin

Phone: 03 476 4663 Email: margaret.g@xtra.co.nz

I provide care for women planning a home birth. Please do not be put off by this. My philosophy is to promote normal birth. I am happy to meet with you to discuss your plans for a birth. This is a no obligations, free visit & our discussion may help clarify which path you wish to go down on your birthing journey and options that are available.

Maternity care is tailored to your needs & your wishes can usually be accommodated. First principals for me have always been that woman should be the driver of her care. Each woman has her own unique journey and I will walk that journey with her providing support, advice & guidance.

I mainly do home visits & some evening visits to clients.

I think women need as much care after the birth as they had during their pregnancy. The usual frequency of these visits are daily for the first week, twice in the second week and weekly to six weeks.

I have maintained my nursing practising certificate & currently work part time in reproductive & sexual health.

Area Covered

The greater Dunedin area. I will travel up to an hour from Dunedin, and at a pinch 1.30 hours from Dunedin. It does depend on the number of women due that month and the availability of back up.

I feel strongly that rural women should get the same level of care as their urban sisters but logistically the place & timing of visits is tailored to each woman’s needs.

Availability

I have a another part time job so you need to think of Fridays as my main day off. I am also unavailable from 12 – 4pm on Tuesday.

There will be some weekends during your maternity journey when I will be away. This is not on a regular basis and usually you will have plenty of notice when this is happening.

My holidays are booked well in advance & I do not book women who are due to birth over that time.

4 women / month is my maximum.

My practice partners cover the days/hours I am unavailable.

Formal Qualifications: NZ Comprehesive Nurse 1979, Registered Midwife 1980, Certificate in neonatal intensive care, Advanced Diploma in Midwifery 1990, Certificate of Proficiency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Family Planning 1996. Post graduate diploma in science ( nutrition) 2010 . I make the most of the inservice opportunities in my own area.

Experience: I have been working as a case loading midwife in NZ since 1991 providing home and hospital births and home births from 2005. Past experience has been working in big London hospitals during my OE, and then mainly working in either small country hospitals or in geographically isolated areas in Canada

I undergo a biennially NZCOM Midwifery Standards Review process.

Location http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,161,392,0,html