Finding a Midwife

Midwives are specialists in birth and pregnancy. While all midwives offer a great deal of skills, experience and knowledge to the expecting mother, there is a challenge in finding one who you feel perfectly comfortable with.
 
You want to be able to develop a supportive relationship with your midwife and to find right level of care throughout the pregnancy, during the labour and in the early weeks following birth.
 
To find the right midwife for you, there are a few steps you might want to try:
 

1. Research midwives.

You can look up practising midwives from around your area by searching through the New Zealand Register of Midwives online. This will give you thorough information about their qualifications and conditions of practice. You can also try asking around friends, family and workmates to get some recommendations.
 

2. Meet the midwife first.

Once you have found a midwife that you think will make a good fit, make an appointment to have a chat and get to know them. This way if you find you’re not entirely comfortable you still have the time to find a better fit.
 
Choosing a midwife is especially important for first time mothers as they offer a great deal of support and information to help you through. Your midwife will be an invaluable partner during the next 9 months so take your time, research and chat to make sure you find the right relationship for you.