Pregnancy Guide

The information on this page covers all the information you need to know about pregnancy, who to contact and where to go to find out more information.

Finding a Midwife

Book a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) such as a midwife or specialist (costs involved for a specialist) as soon as possible, there is a shortage and you may have difficulty finding a Midwife after 6-8 weeks

You can find a midwife by visiting www.findyourmidwife.co.nz

Alternately book a private Obstetric Specialist in Wellington an www.wellingtonobstetrics.co.nz

If you don’t have a midwife by 9 weeks, please see your regular Doctor/ GP to arrange urgent baby scans and maternity blood tests. Please also contact as soon as possible access to the primary teams at Wellington or Hutt Hospital who will help with your antenatal care and birth.

Click here for Capital and Coast

Click here for Hutt Valley

These sites also allow you to fill in a contact form if you’re having trouble finding a midwife and provides a phone number to call for help – 0800findmw (0800 346 369)

Medical Appointments

Midwife / Specialist or hospital appointments are important to keeping baby and you well. It is important to attend all check-ups for a safer pregnancy and birth. The Midwife will check the baby’s growth and make sure you are both well. If needed, she can refer you to a hospital team or specialist

Your midwife is also “on-call” between visits for anything urgent or if you go into labour.

During early pregnancy, the Midwife will want to see you every 4-6 weeks, then fortnightly, and then weekly during the last four weeks of pregnancy. Your LMC will provide you with a way to contact them during the day and after hours. You can call Healthline 24/7 on 0800611116, or emergency services on 111.

Testing and Screening

In pregnancy your LMC will check your health with a series of urine & blood tests, and ultrasounds. More information about these can be found on Healthify.

Staying Healthy in Pregnancy

Visit Healthify for information around nutrition, exercise, vaccinations, alcohol, smoking, medicines, sleep, your mental wellbeing, and supporting your partner in pregnancy.

Warning Signs

If you notice any of the below signs please call your Lead Maternity Carer  immediately, or call the hospital and ask for the Birthing Suite and talk to an on-call midwife 24/7 (Wellington Hospital 043855999 or Hutt Hospital 045666999). It is helpful if your support people know the name of your Lead Maternity Carer, and their contact number. Disclaimer: this information does not replace any specific advice from your Lead Maternity Carer. We offer generic information in our classes. No Medical Advice will be given.

  • Baby is moving less than normal today. As baby gets bigger their movements do not slow down or reduce. If you notice baby is less active it is important to get checked. Your LMC will give you tips to help them move again, or tell you when to come in and be checked. Please do not leave this until the next morning.

  • Trouble with urinating/ peeing. Pain or a burning feeling when you pee, feeling unable to urinate, or needing to pee again straight away could mean you have a bladder infection. Easily treated with antibiotics if untreated this could lead to premature labour.

  • Swelling, vision changes, and/or headaches. If your hands, feet or face suddenly swell, you see sparkly lights, or you have a sudden headache it could be pre-eclampsia. This can be serious if untreated.

  • Waters breaking, or contractions before 37 weeks. Your waters could break in a gush like on TV, or in a slow trickle. Contractions might be felt as back pain, or period pain that comes and goes. After 37 weeks your pregnancy is “full term”. Before 37 weeks babies often need some help to get their lungs ready to start breathing air. Premature babies are often cared from in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) or Special Baby Care (SCBU) Parents of early babies are supported by Little Miracles Trust.

  • Bleeding at any time during the pregnancy.

  • If you have a gut feeling something is wrong.

Mental Health

The life changes of parenthood and hormones of pregnancy can be stressful or triggering as well as wonderful and exciting.

  • Do you feel more stressed, sad or anxious than usual?

  • Not coping or reacting as you normally would?

  • Your support people are worried about you

You are not alone – lots of people have these feelings, and there is support available if you are able to take the first step.

  • Text or call the Mental Health Helpline on 1737

  • Visit your GP

  • Read some online self-help resources like PADA, DEPRESSION.ORG

If you do not feel safe please reach out urgently.

  • Tell your partner, a friend or family member

  • Call your GP and ask to speak to the practice nurse urgently

  • Call a mental health crisis line: 0800543354 (Lifeline text 4357) 0800828865 (Suicide Crisis Line)

  • Go to the Emergency Dept at Wellington or Hutt Hospital.

You are very important and pregnancy can be challenging, very tiring and hormonal changes can affect how you feel each day. Don’t do this alone!

Vaccinations

  • COVID-19 vaccine are offered free for everyone over 5 – when the pregnant person is vaccinated it can give protection for baby.

  • The flu vaccine is given in the flu season to protect both mother and baby. It is free during pregnancy.

  • The Whooping Cough vaccine is free to pregnant women and is repeated during each pregnancy. It is given between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy as offers protection to the pregnant person plus this vaccine helps the baby acquire some immunity against whooping cough until the baby has had both the follow-up vaccines at six weeks and 3-months of age.

New Zealand has a high number of cases of whooping cough in the community, and whooping cough is potentially fatal for young babies. Due to this, it is highly recommended for all pregnant women and their families. Though the vaccine is free for pregnant women. There is a cost involved for partners and whānau.

Supplements

Your Lead Maternity Carer, Doctor or specialist can prescribe the following recommended pregnancy supplements for you:

Folic Acid

It is recommended that you take folic acid before pregnancy, or as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. This helps baby’s brain and spine to develop properly.

Iodine

Iodine supplementation is recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

More information is available on Healthify.

Eating Safely and Well

Eat fresh, home-cooked meals with a variety of freshly washed vegetables and salads. Add in protein. Meat should be piping hot and balanced with carbohydrates such as potato, taro, or rice. Increase dairy products to keep calcium levels up.

Cut down on food that has no nutritional value. Choose water or trim milk to drink, and consider reducing sugar, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, tea, and coffee.

Healthify He Puna Waiora has tips on how to avoid listeria. Listeria can be caught from unwashed food, like lettuce and uncooked/raw shellfish, sushi, and soft cheeses.

You may also be eligible to join a free programme, to encourage positive healthy lifestyle changes while you’re pregnant. This includes practical food and cooking workshops, physical activity support, mentoring, and more. Find out more at Healthify.

Exercise

Keep moving, and stay physically active. Continue walking and swimming with light-to-normal activities. Giving birth, recovering from birth and getting up and down off the floor with your baby is easier if you are physically fit.

You could choose to start doing some gentle exercise. Walking and swimming are good for your body and can help get baby into the best position for a smooth birth. If you would like to focus on this you could look at the Spinning Babies Daily Activities, yoga videos, and the Parent Class for more information about getting your body ready for birth. There are some resources for free, and some with a small cost.

Things to avoid

When you’re pregnant, it’s recommended you avoid smoking, vaping, recreational drugs, and alcoholic beverages as these will harm your unborn baby. Smoking and second-hand smoke in pregnancy increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by 32 times.

Research shows that you are more successful quitting an addiction when you are supported by a program.  For help to Stop Smoking/ vaping / alcohol/ drugs go to 0800 778 778. You can also find resources at Quitline.

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797

Check if any herbal teas, prescribed medicines and over-the-counter pharmacy medications are safe.

Morning Sickness

If you have morning sickness and you’re unable to keep food or fluids down at all, please seek urgent advice from your Lead Maternity Carer, Doctor or Hospital Emergency Department.

You can find general information about morning sickness on Healthify.

Support with Loss

Miscarriage, Fetal abnormality, or the loss of a baby – information for bereaved families that is gentle and kind and full of good advice.

If you miscarry or think you might be miscarrying, contact your Lead Maternity Carer or go to the Emergency Department at the Hospital for help. for information on fetal abnormality, you will be referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine clinic at the hospital.

You can learn more about miscarriage and find support on the Miscarriage Support website.

COVID-19 – if you have any cough, cold, or flu symptoms, or if you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 please do a COVID-19 test at home.

Mental Health, stress, and family safety

Postnatal Depression can occur to either parent in the first year of baby’s life. Talking about your feelings is the first step. There are resources below.

If you are concerned about family violence, these organisations can help;

  • Police – 111

  • Oranga Tamariki 0508 FAMILY or 0508 326 459 free from any phone 24 hours a day, every day or see their website for more information

  • Shine helpline 0508 744 633 free from any phone 9am to11pm every day.

  • Women’s Refuge: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 free from any phone, 24 hours a day, every day.

  • Shakti: 0800 SHAKTI or 0800 742 584 Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. 24 hours a day, every day.

  • It’s Not Ok: 0800 456 450 Information line free from any phone, 9am to 11pm every day.

Planning your birth

Think about your choices of where and how you would like to give birth. Your Lead Maternity Carer can talk to you about your birthing options, and you can also visit the maternity website for a range of excellent free pamphlets.

Some of the main choices you have to make include where to give birth (at home, at a primary birthing unit, or in hospital), options for pain relief, support person(s), birthing positions, cutting the cord, what to do with the placenta, and much more.

Hospital Tours

If you are birthing in a facility then look at the virtual hospital tours

Hutt maternity / virtual tour 

Wellington, Kenepuru and Kāpiti virtual tours

Shopping for your Baby’s Needs

Shopping for your baby but unsure of what to buy? Check our suggestion on what you could buy before baby is born.