Waitara Maternity Roadshow coming
For Jendi Coxhead, knowledge is power.
Throughout the process of bringing her son, Rydge Ward, into the world and during his first year she’s accessed many Taranaki services for support along the way.
‘‘Information is like gold really,’’ she said. ‘‘It was all about knowledge. You get so much from other people that you know but it’s good just going somewhere where you don’t know anyone.’’
Accessing what’s actually out there will be easier when the Maternity Services roadshow launches in Waitara on Wednesday August 3.
Services like Taranaki District Health Board, Home Birth Aotearoa, La Leche League, Tui Ora, Plunket, Breastfeeding Peer Support, Women’s Refuge and many other providers will be there.
‘‘We’re focusing on not-forprofit organisations and various district health board services, so we’re not inviting any commercial businesses. It’s not about free marketing for companies,’’ Christine Strydom from the district health board said.
‘‘The roadshow is about establishing relationships both between consumers and service providers.
‘‘Waitara is a pilot project for us. If all goes well we hope to roll
‘‘There are so many services available to women and their support people, and a lot of women aren't aware of what's available.’’ Christine Strydom
it out around the mountain.’’
Topics covered at the roadshow include safe sleep support, antenatal groups, immunisation, smoking cessation, mental health, nutrition and information about midwives.
Maternity Services roadshow is specifically for people planning a pregnancy, already expecting a child or with young children.
It’s also open to support people or family members too.
‘‘There are so many services available to women and their support people, and a lot of women aren’t aware of what’s available to them,’’ she said.
Strydom said a lot has changed in the New Zealand maternity landscape in the last 20 or so years.
‘‘For a lot of women having babies today, it’s very different to when their mothers had children.’’
She encouraged people to find a midwife early in pregnancy. ‘‘As soon as you know or you think you might be pregnant, call a midwife. A lot of midwives do free pregnancy tests for you. The sooner you can get there the better it is for you and the baby.’’
The roadshow runs from 9.30am to noon at Knox Church.