Congrats on your pregnancy Kandice .  If you're interested in exploring a homebirth option, the following team of midwives provide a fantastic service.  I listened to them speak at the Homebirth Aotearoa Conference in October and was really impressed - if I lived in Chch they would definitely be my first choice.  I've had homebirth midwives for both my pregnancies (although had a planned hospital birth with DS) and found them to be wonderful - they do home visits before and after the birth and provide so much support with breastfeeding.

From the NZ College of Midwives website:

Homebirth Midwives, Christchurch - Julie Richards, Juliet Thorpe, Jacqui Anderson, Michelle Prier, Lynda van Lindt

Address: PO Box 21106
Phone: 03 366 9590 Email: homebirth.midwives.chch@gmail.com

Our Philosophy:

We work in partnership with women and their families and believe pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. We support women to birth at home and provide care to meet their individual needs. Continuity of midwifery care is an essential part of our philosophy. All our maternity care is free of charge.

Why is homebirth a safe choice?

• Pregnancy and birth are normal life events.
• Care is provided by experienced skilled midwives.
• 24 hour access to midwifery care
• Comprehensive, ongoing assessment and care for you and your baby during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally.
• Consultation and referral to other health professionals as required.

We bring to your home all the equipment equivalent to that used in birthing units.

Who can have a homebirth?

• Well women expecting their first or subsequent babies.

An information  evening is held on the first Monday of each month, at the Midwifery Resource Centre, 376 Manchester St, Christchurch.  This is an opportunity to explore home birth with midwives from our practice and home birth consumers.