Pls help -emigrating to NZ whilst preg
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26353
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Topic: Pls help -emigrating to NZ whilst preg
Posted By: JennyB
Subject: Pls help -emigrating to NZ whilst preg
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 8:20am
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Hi everyone,
My husband and I are moving to Wellington from the UK at the end of July. I'll be about 23 weeks pregnant so will have had 2 scans in the UK before i come out. I'm really worried that the forum suggests that it's really difficult to find a mid wife - is there anything i can do from here to line one up, or do i need to wait until I come out. I'm really scared, it's my first pregnancy and the thought of not having a hospitial place or anyone to look after me is really upsetting. I've also looked through some newspaper articles which is quite critical of the maternity care at Wellington hospitial. I know i shouldn't believe or i read but it's difficult being so far away. I'm not really sure what to beleive especially as my midwife in the UK says that maternity care in New Zealand is streets ahead and so much better than uk. If anyone can recommend any websites or antenatal classes etc, I'd really appreciate it. Am looking forward to having a kiwi kid and moving to wellington,b ut this really is scaring me. Jenny Look forward to posting over the next year. |
Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 8:32am
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Hi I would start contacting mw's now so that they can put you on their books ready for when you come out. Also if you can't find an independent mw then the hospital mw team will look after you but it just means that you wouldn't see the same one each time you have a check up and for your labour you would get whichever one was on shift (but you would hopefully have met her before hand).
I'm originally from the Uk and although I haven't given birth there my sister has and so has three of my SILs and some friends and quite frankly I am extremely pleased that I haven't had to go through what they did because their level of care was just shocking. NZ has it's faults but on the whole it is a damn site better than the UK. I haven't used wellington hospital so can't speak for that particular one but I am sure others will post who have and can let you know what it's really like (rather than the media hype). Congratulations on the baby and you won't regret moving here  ------------- 
 
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Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 8:35am
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I moved from Australia to NZ while I was pregnant so I understand your concerns. It is hard to find a midwife, but if all else fails you can just use the hospital midwifery team. If possible, begin contacting midwives via email to see if there is anybody available, or if you know somebody here they may be able to ring around for you (I had my mum ring midwives here and we managed to get me on the books before I arrived).
With wellington hospital, I didn't give birth there as I live in the cetral North Island, but due to complications my daughter was transfered to the neonatal unit at a few hours old. We were there for nearly a week, and they looked after my daughter incredibly well. I was welcome to visit her whenever I wanted, and they made me feel so welcome. The nurses even looked after my partner the 1st night as he refused to leave her alone in the incubator since I wasn't able to be with her for the first 24hours. The care she recieved was of the highest standard. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 12:30pm
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I had my twins at wellington hospital last year and I was very impressed and happy with the hospital staff. I spent 2.5 weeks in the maternity ward and the girls had a 10 day stay in NICU.
The bad press was down to the hospital being understaffed. I never felt like I was being pushed out, in fact when they discharged me, 5 days after c-sect, and then gave me a bed upstairs in a closed ward so I could stay close to my daughters while they were in NICU. I had my own MW but was under the Obstetrics team at the hospital as well and I found the care to be great. Yes you don't get the same person each time but you are still looked after. A friend of mine moved to Welly when she was 20weeks pregnant I know she managed to find a MW but it just took time. Here is a link for some http://www.wellingtonmidwives.com/ - Wellington Midwives Do you know what part of Wellington you'll be based in? There are lots of options for Antenatal classes and if you know where you'll be based then it'd be a good way to meet people. I moved here from Ireland 3.5 years ago, so I know it's quite daunting relocating so far. If you have any questions or want a friendly face ( or 3) to visit when you arrive let me know 
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Posted By: ShellyBR
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 2:00pm
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We are both Irish and were only in the country a couple of months when we got pregnant with our DS. He was born at welly hospital and since then they have opened a brand new hospital in February. I know a couple of people who went through the hospital midwifes and had no problems. As regards to anti natel classes I would really recommend Parent Centre. We did ours though Wellington North Parent Centre and I ended up with a really great bunch of friends who have been a god send over the last couple of years especially when you don't have the usual family support with a 2 day flight
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 3:15pm
Hi Jenny, Welcome to Oh Baby! and congrats on your pregnancy  .
I had both my daughters and Wellington Hospital and whilst it is not the Hilton it was fine and that was the old wing - you will get to use the new one. I chose to have an OB who had his own midwives but he is no longer in private practice so I can help there but I would second what ShelleyBR said about Parent Centre. We did anti-natal classes through Wellington South Parent Centre and I have made some wonderful friends - when we were having Amy none of our friends had children so it was a whole unknown area! 5 of us are still meet up once a week for the kids to play and for us to have a catch up and we are going out fpr dinner on Friday to celebrate surviving 3 years of parenthood  .
Here is the link to the parent centre website if you are interested - it is not only informative but also a great way to meet other new parents in your area. http://www.parentscentre.org.nz/ - link Let us know when you get here  .-------------   
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Posted By: sassysas
Date Posted: 06 May 2009 at 9:06pm
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Hi Jenny!
Looks like we are in the same boat! We are also moving from the UK to NZ, but next week! And we are going to Auckland not Wellington. I have contacted a midwife already and she has just said that when we arrive in NZ we need to come to the clinic and just meet her and decide if she is right for us, then we need to register. Doesnt seem to be too much of a hassle. At least we get the option to choose our midwife here, unlike in the UK! I contacted MAMA and received an email from them giving me all the contact number of the midwives in the area we will be moving to. I suggest you do the same. We did the NCT classes a couple of weeks ago and our teacher put us onto this website: http://www.maternity.org.nz/links.shtml lots of useful links. If you like you can drop me a mail if you want, its saskiarose@hotmail.com x ------------- Due 11 Aug with first baby |
Posted By: JennyB
Date Posted: 07 May 2009 at 5:43am
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Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for all your response. It's reassuring to hear your positive views about Wellington hospitial. Although i'd prefer to see the same midwife it wouldn't be the end of the world if i had a different one each time. Tishy - We haven't decided where in Wellington we will be yet, I'd love to live in Oriental Bay but think it might be more than we can stretch too, especiall as we've agreed that it's not worth me trying to find work. we'll be staying in a serviced appartment for a couple of weeks and then I'd like to look around Kelburn and Hubby wants to live in Wadestown (any views on areas are v welcome) I guess they are both in the north so i could go ahead and sign up for some antenatal classes. given i wont have any family near by I'm keen to find some fellow mums to be who can help stop me from going insane! It would be great to meet up and see some friendly faces. Thanks so much x Sassy - best of luck with your move . Great advice thanks. I'll drop you an email separately |