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Find a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) here
About our Maternity Services
For more information on our maternity services use the side menu
Taranaki Maternity Services consist of a Base Hospital maternity unit in New Plymouth and a primary maternity facility in Hāwera.
There are approximately 1500 births in Taranaki per year. Obstetricians, hospital midwives, nurses and lead maternity carers (LMC’s) provide care within our services.
The average length of stay for a normal birth is approximately two days, and for a caesarean birth, three to four days. Postnatal follow up care is carried out by a midwife in your home, from discharge for up to six weeks postpartum. The baby is then transferred to a Well Child provider of the mother's choice.
The facility is open 24-hours-a-day and experienced staff are available at all times for any enquiries.
Hapū Wānanga
A FREE kaupapa Māori labour, birth and parenting programme designed for whānau in Taranaki.
The Hapū Wānanga ki Taranaki programme is a fun and interactive course that shares information on tikanga Māori birthing and parenting practices, labour and birth, complementary therapies, safe sleep, breastfeeding and more. Whānau will have an opportunity to make their own ipu whenua (clay vessel) for babies placenta as well as a whītau muka (muka tie) to use. Read more >>
Mā te Mātau
A FREE pēpi safety programme designed for hapū whānau in Taranaki.
The Mā te Mātau programme is a course that provides the tools to whānau to keep pēpi safe from multiple different community services. Hosted by Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, you will learn about how to keep your home safe and dry (Wise Charitable Trust), safe sleep for pēpi (Taranaki Tau te Moe - Te Aka Whai Ora), reducing risks and hazards around the whare (Kidsafe Taranaki), protecting your mental health (Therapeutic Social Work) and CPR and choking (Em med training). Read more >>
Maternity Services provided by Te Whatu Ora Taranaki
Secondary Outpatient Antenatal Clinic
Your LMC may refer you for a specialist appointment in the secondary antenatal clinic for advice in care planning if you have a medical or obstetric history that indicates you require this. In some circumstances your LMC and specialist will discuss with you who the most appropriate person is to continue to be clinically responsible for your care if you have a condition that recommends the specialist to be clinically responsible for your care. In this case, with your agreement your care may be transferred to a specialist and your LMC may or may not continue the midwifery care, depending on her scope, experience and circumstances. If your LMC midwife does not continue the midwifery care then the hospital antenatal clinic midwife will provide this. Click here for more information.
Neonatal Unit
We offer special care to premature and sick newborn babies. Click here for more information.
Antenatal and Labour Ward
There are five birthing rooms, a pregnancy loss room called the “willow suite”, a birthing pool room and seven antenatal inpatient rooms. The operating theatres are located in the main hospital block.
Postnatal Ward
The postnatal ward is located on the floor above the antenatal and postnatal ward. There are 11 single bedded rooms, two of which have ensuite facilities and two three-bedded rooms.
Additionally there is a room that allows mothers to board in while their babies are still requiring neonatal care.
The lactation consultant and newborn hearing screener is located in the postnatal ward.
Vaccination Drop in Clinic
The vaccination clinic is being held between 11am-12pm on Wednesdays. The clinic is held in the Antenatal Clinic at the back of Labour Ward. Enter through the Antenatal Clinic entrance.
Hāwera Maternity
Hāwera Maternity unit facilitates low risk childbirth in its birthing room, which includes a birthing pool. Additionally it has four postnatal stay rooms. Women who birth in Hawera may stay for around 48 hours post delivery unless there are on-going issues when they may have a longer stay.
Women who birth at Taranaki Base Hospital may transfer to Hāwera maternity unit when they are clinically fit for approximately 48 hrs of post natal care.
New born hearing screening and hip check services are available in Hāwera
Click here for more information on Hāwera Hospital services.
Last updated: Wednesday, October 7, 2020