Birthing centre close to delivery
The wait is almost over for expecting mothers wanting to have their babies at Palmerston North’s sleek new birthing centre.
Te Papaioea Birthing Centre is set to open in late October, about two years after it was given the goahead.
Centre founder and chief executive Chloe Wright said it was exciting to see it almost finished.
The centre was the first of its kind in Palmerston North, with the only other primary birthing facilities nearby in Levin and Dannevirke.
Its construction was due to finish at the end of September. The centre will then undergo mandatory audits before opening its doors in October.
The 12-suite, purpose-built centre is free for mothers eligible for care in New Zealand hospitals.
Pregnant women wanting to give birth at the centre were now able to book via their midwife, Wright said.
‘‘We’re delighted to now be accepting bookings and giving Manawatu women another choice in where they want to give birth.’’
Wright said the centre’s philosophy was to offer choice and support to women who could give birth without intervention.
Te Papaioea offered mothers a home-like, nurturing and caring environment to give birth in, she said.
The rooms were designed to give mothers comfort and privacy. They were also soundproof and almost all had baths.
Women who give birth at the centre were able to stay for three nights’ post-natal care, with their partner or support person able to stay for one night, Wright said.
The centre’s circle sign on Ruahine St would light up either pink or blue each time a baby was born.
Midwives will be available 24 hours a day and a qualified lactation consultant was also available to support with breastfeeding.
The centre’s clinical manager Annie Kinloch said staff recruitment was under way.
‘‘We run our birthing centres from a philosophy of kindness and nurturing for women and families, and a passion for primary birthing. We are seeking team members who share the same values.’’
Midwives could book their mothers in the same way as they did at the hospital.
Midwives were also required to sign an access agreement to use the centre and book women in by the 37th week of pregnancy.
Palmerston North’s new building was the second built by the Birthing Centre organisation, which opened its Bethlehem Birthing Centre in Tauranga in 2014. Its Melling Birthing Centre was due to open near Wellington in early 2018.