Pregnancy and Childbirth
It is your choice where you have your baby and who cares for you during pregnancy and birth.
Most women choose to have a midwife as their Lead Maternity carer.
All maternity services in New Zealand are free of charge.
Typically a midwife can offer or arrange pregnancy testing, care and assessments throughout pregnancy, blood tests or investigative procedures, consultation with an obstetrician or other specialist, support and care during labour and birth in the place of your choice - whether it be in a hospital or at home or a location such as a birth pool - and support and care after your baby is born.
You have a number of rights when receiving medical care in New Zealand. These include the right to be treated with respect, the right to be free from discrimination, coercion, harassment and exploitation, the right to dignity and independence, the right to services of an appropriate standard, the right to effective communication, the right to be fully informed, the right to make an informed choice and give informed consent, the right to support, rights in respect of teaching or research and the right to complain.