When it comes to celebrating the arrival of a new baby, choosing the perfect gift for a Kiwi mum-to-be is both a joy and a challenge. With a…
Teenage pregnancy rates have been trending down in most countries in the developed world since the early 1970’s. As education increases, availability of contraception becomes more accessible and…
Have you recently found out that you’re pregnant? Congratulations! Our due date calculator for pregnancy will help to give you an idea of when you might expect your…
Wondering whether you’re pregnant? Our free online pregnancy quiz can help! While we can’t produce a virtual reality one just yet, we have put together a free online pregnancy…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 19 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 18 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 17 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 16 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 15 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 14 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 13 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 12 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 11 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 10 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 9 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 8 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 7 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 6 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 5 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 3 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 3 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 2 weeks, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
In association with professional midwife experts at birthEd, find out everything you need to know about pregnancy at 1 week, including how your baby is growing, changes to…
…could I be, pregnant? You might have asked yourself this little question in the quiet recesses of your mind. Our instincts are still a little understood factor in…
In this article, we explore good nutrition for conception and give you some ideas about how to really optimise your nutritionally intake, greatly improving your chances of conceiving.
The birth of a baby is a momentous, meaningful event. A special time in our lives that touches us all deeply in different ways. Unfortunately, many mothers enter the last…
There is nothing more delicious than a teeny tiny newborn baby and it can be hard to think about anything other than eating and sleeping in those early…
After that amazing moment of finding out that you are pregnant, one of the first things you will need to do is choose your lead maternity care provider.…
When you’re heavily pregnant, and dealing with labour pains, the last thing you want to be doing is leaning over a suitcase, guessing at the items you might…
Every family has a few skeletons in a closet and adoption has long been a history of silence for many women and families in New Zealand affected by…
Life with a newborn can be absolutely amazing, but it can also be hectic and overwhelming. Thankfully there are a range of services that parents of newborns can…
Successful conception relies on such an intricate series of events, it is somewhat surprising that any of us are actually here at all!! There are so many factors…
Being diagnosed with postnatal depression (PND) can come as both a shock and a relief. You may feel shocked that you have depression but relieved to know why…
For many women, preconception nutrition is not considered unless they have a related health issue or are consciously planning for a healthy pregnancy. Once pregnant, focus is altered to planning for arrival of baby, so post-conception nutrition can be an afterthought, yet remains vitally important throughout pregnancy.
There are lots of fears and myths surrounding HIV and it’s important to get all the facts if you are HIV positive and pregnant or considering getting pregnant.
Find great maternity wear to help you feel fabulous when you’re pregnant.
Traditionally childbirth has been described as consisting of three “mechanisms”: • Powers – The forceful strength of co-ordinated contractions • Passage – The birth canal anatomy, including the…
The last thing most parents want to think about when they’re expecting a baby is the possibility that their child becomes seriously sick. But sadly, that’s what sometimes…
Pregnancy Help supports the well being of pregnant and recently pregnant women, parents, caregivers and their families/whanau, by providing information and practical support with non-judgemental Care, Concern and…
La Leche League offers information and encouragement – primarily through personal help – to women who want to breastfeed their babies. Find out how it can help you.
Family Planning New Zealand (formerly the Family Planning Association or FPA) began in 1936 to help women choose the size of their families and the spacing of their children. As…
This article Teenagers and Birth explains some of the issues that are common amongst teenagers when they are at the end of pregnancy or giving birth.
This article looks at teenagers & pregnancy and provides advice for teenagers on how to care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy.
This article explains the concept of natural family planning, the pros and cons and how natural family planning may work for you.
The first six weeks at home with your baby – possibly the most exciting and most tiring days of your life! Read about how to survive the first…
This article outlines the options of where to give birth for women in New Zealand. There are 3 main options of where to give birth.
When we first see those two little lines on that little stick, one can never imagine the joy and love that is about to come. We imagine little…
Many women choose Vaginal Birth after Caesarean, or VBAC, after a previous Caesarean section. Find out more about VBAC in New Zealand.
Twins and triplets are increasingly common in New Zealand – to find out more about twin births and multiple births, read on.
Third degree tears are not common but can have long term effects on the woman’s health – find out how to minimise the risks of third degree tears.
Spontaneous rupture of membranes usually occurs during normal labour – but membranes can rupture before labour also and this can affect progress of labour.
This article explains what to expect when you return home after a Caesarean section. Life at home after a C-section can be pretty tough in the first weeks.
The first few days after a Caesarean section can be difficult and tiring. This article covers what to expect in the post natal ward after a Caesarean section.
Caesarean section is now very common in New Zealand – read about the first 24 hours after Caesarean section and pick up tips to speed your recovery.
This article gives information to NZ parents on promoting natural childbirth and advice on how to keep the birth as natural as possible.
Pain relief is at the foremost of most women’s minds in pregnancy. This article outlines the main options for pain relief in labour in New Zealand today.
This article gives an overview of a typical normal birth. It tells you what to expect and how to optimise your chances of having a normal birth.
This article describes the three stages of labour in pregnancy . Labour has been divided into 3 different stages, although in reality they merge seamlessly together. It is…
In this article on induction of labour we provide an overview, or summary, of what to expect during an induction. If you know you are going to be…
This article describes induction of labour in detail. It describes why and how an induction takes place, including details of risks and complications.
HypnoBirthing® – The Mongan Method involves natural childbirth education, combined with self-hypnosis techniques (including deep relaxation, visualisation, affirmations and special breathing), to achieve a confident, calm, and gentle birth. HypnoBirthing involves more…
This article discusses fetal distress – why a baby may become distressed before birth and the likely consequences of fetal distress.
Episiotomies and tears are common after childbirth. This article explains episiotomies and different types of perineal tears and how they are repaired.
This article provides an overview of Caesarean section – why they are performed and the risks and complications associated with Cesarean section.
This article gives information on Caesarean in Detail – what happens before and after a Caesarean section in New Zealand, what is involved and detail on what it…
Many women in Aotearoa-New Zealand make a birth plan for their labour and birth. A birth plan can help to guide your midwives and doctors and make them…
An Assisted Birth is one where forceps or ventouse are used to assist the birth of the baby.
How will I know if I am in labour? Check our list of signs and symptoms to help you to recognise whether labour is underway.
These days it is very easy to test at home whether you are pregnant or not – you can use home pregnancy test kits, which are explained in this…
We give some great ideas for themes, invitations, games and gifts to help you plan a baby shower to remember.
This easy to use pregnancy and birth terms glossary helps you understand terms commonly used by midwives, doctors and those in the know!
Pre-eclampsia is a condition of pregnancy and affects many women worldwide. This article explains pre-eclampsia and the implications for mother and baby
Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life threatening condition. Read about the causes and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and treatment for the condition.
As many as one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. Find out more about the causes, symptoms, risks, and treatment for miscarriage for women in New Zealand today.
There are three main causes of bleeding in pregnancy. Find out why bleeding in pregnancy should always be checked out by your maternity carer.
This article is full of tips for Maternity Wear – whether it’s tops, pants or underwear you’re after, for work or home, for formal or casual, small or…
Many parents worry about the growth of the baby during pregnancy and are told they are having a small baby or growth of baby is slow. Read on…
This article examines fetal movements in pregnancy. Baby’s movements or kicks are a reflection of fetal health and well being in the womb.
The 3 trimesters of pregnancy – the amazing experience of carrying and growing a new life inside your body. What is happening in each of the 3 trimesters…
Exercising for the birth is vital to promote natural birth. There are exercises which can help pregnant mums to prepare for the birth. This article can be read…
This article gives information for parents on the role of the doula, a fairly new phenomenon in New Zealand, how to find a doula and what the benefits…
This article explains the role of obstetricians and when you may require the specialist care of an obstetrician in pregnancy or childbirth.
This article explains the role of the midwives in New Zealand, how to find a midwife and what they will do during pregnancy, birth and afterwards.
This article explains the role of the Lead Maternity Carer – LMC – and factors to consider when choosing an LMC. Women in New Zealand have several options…
How do I know I am pregnant ? This article explores the early signs and symptoms you may have if you are pregnant and common feelings in early…
This article explains about pregnancy preconception care and explains what you can do before conception to prepare and care for your baby.
This article on Leanne’s story of her journey with fertility problems discusses her experience of infertility treatment.
This infertility article describes the most common treatments for infertility and explains what each treatment involves for parents to be.
This article on investigating infertility explains the most commonly used investigations to check for infertility in men and women.
In this article we thought it timely to discuss “information – gathering and sharing”. As the fertility journey we are going through is, for the majority, for the first…
This article gives you some tips on increasing your chances of getting pregnant and offers some great health tips to follow, prior to getting pregnant.
Endometriosis – is often referred to as a silent disease or a hidden epidemic. The words “hidden” and “silent” are aptly, though unfortunately, used because just like our…
Understanding male infertility is crucial for couples facing conception challenges. While it often lacks obvious symptoms, there are potential indicators to be aware of. In this article, we’ll…
This article on dealing with announcements discusses difficulties for couples who are experiencing fertility problems when faced with dealing with pregnancy announcements.
This article outlines the most common causes of infertility in New Zealand. Causes of infertility can be related to the woman, the man, or both.
Exercise in pregnancy is vital for a healthy pregnancy – here are some great tips for incorporating exercise into your daily routine in pregnancy.
Heartburn in pregnancy is a very, very common complaint and effects most women during pregnancy at some point. Some women experience quite severe heartburn during pregnancy.
Iron requirements increase in pregnancy due to the needs of the growing baby and the mother’s increased blood volume. Iron requirements are even higher in the third trimester,…
Calcium – an essential nutrient in pregnancy Calcium is important for bone strength. Generally, the calcium needs of the baby during pregnancy are met through the mother absorbing…
During pregnancy the altered hormone levels (increased progesterone) affects gut function and this can result in constipation for some people.