Anatomy of a C-section
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Vbac or Bust created this felt representation of a C-section. Idea credit goes to https://www.naturalabundance.me/cut-now-anatomy-c-section/
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Having a c-section?
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > Having a c-section?
C-sections are a miracle of modern medicine. Obstetrician Dr Nick Walker walks us through this awe-inspiring surgical procedure, so you know what to expect! You have come at last to the end of your pregnancy, and today will be your new baby’s bi...
C-section update
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > C-section update
Obstetrician, Dr Nick Walker shares the latest on Caesarean section births and how you can make the most of bringing your baby into the world this way. In this fast paced world, the times are always changing, as the saying goes. This is especial...
What to expect during a c-section
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > What to expect during a c-section
The maternity team attending a C-section birth consists of a midwife, theatre nurses, anaesthetist, anaesthesia technician, obstetrician, paediatrics nurse or doctor, and your support person. That means a lot of people in a large bright operating...
Birth story: c-section during a pandemic
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Birth Stories > Birth story: c-section during a pandemic
We found out we were expecting baby number 2 in July 2019, two days after we’d moved house. We went through a private obstetrician for a second time for peace of mind, and little did we know just how valuable he would be by the time baby’s birthda...
C-sections: the facts
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > C-sections: the facts
Birth is a big topic and Caesarean sections are an important part of the conversation. Dr Michelle Wise explains the ins and outs of C-section deliveries in New Zealand. In 2012, 25% of all women giving birth in New Zealand had a Caesarean section...
What you need to know about c-sections
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > What you need to know about c-sections
Caesarean sections - are they are reasonable choice, or the cruellest cut? Specialist obstetrician/gynaecologist Dr Anil Sharma weighs in on the debate. A Caesarean section is a surgical procedure that is undertaken to deliver a baby via an inci...
VBAC explained
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > VBAC explained
If you have had a caesarean, VBAC may be a term that’s weighing on your mind. Dr Martin Sowter explains the options, the risks, and those confusing acronyms. In 2014 one in four women in New Zealand will give birth by caesarean section. This figur...
Caesarean lowdown
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > Caesarean lowdown
OHbaby! expert obstetrician Dr Martin Sowter looks at why nearly a quarter of New Zealand mothers give birth by Caesarean section and at what risk. Nearly one in four New Zealand babies will be born by Caesarean section this year. Despite, or per...
After c-sections
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > C-sections > After c-sections
The average hospital stay after a C-section is three days. During this time the team of midwives and doctors will visit regularly to ensure you are recovering well. Some maternity hospitals around the world follow the EROS programme (Enhancing you...
Second time around
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Second time around
So your first baby made its entrance into the world via Caesarean section, does this mean your next birth needs to follow suit? Dr Nick Walker unpacks this increasingly common topic and helps to explain the options. You’re pregnant again, with you...
Breech babies
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Breech babies
What does it mean if your baby is in the breech position by the time you're about to give birth? Dr Emma Parry explains. Whenever your doctor or midwife feels your tummy, she is trying to find out more about your baby. First her size - is your bab...
Vaginal seeding
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Vaginal seeding
Vaginal seeding: Does it really lead to better health and wellbeing for c-section babies, or is it just a fad? Many women have heard about vaginal seeding and might be curious as to whether it’s something they should consider. Seeding is a relativ...
Who pays the midwife? Awkward questions answered
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Hot Topics > Who pays the midwife? Awkward questions answered
Most women in New Zealand have their babies under the guidance of a midwife and, all going well, this woman becomes a “professional friend” who gives you all manner of support as well as medical care. This wonderful service is free to all Kiwi mum...
Spinal Block
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Pain Relief in Labour > Spinal Block
A spinal block is administered in the same way as an epidural, via a needle into the epidural space in your back, but unlike the epidural which can be topped up, the spinal block consists of a single dose of local anesthetic which completely numb...
Is it normal to get chills and shakes after giving birth?
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Is it normal to get chills and shakes after giving birth?
Along with the sweet relief of not having to push anymore and the joy of finally holding your baby, you may experience a lesser-known phenomenon – postpartum shakes. We want to say right off the bat that this is perfectly normal even though it’s n...
Spinning babies
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Spinning babies
Fetal positioning varies from mama to mama. We look at how the supported pregnancy and labour positions of Spinning Babies may help people find space in their pelvis, and freedom in birth. When Jessica Tye was in labour with her twins, Lachlan a...
Preparing your birth plan
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Preparing your birth plan
As you enter the third trimester you'll likely be looking at creating a birth plan. Here's some things to consider. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you and your lead maternity carer (LMC) may spend some time together going through a birth plan....
Surviving a traumatic birth
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Surviving a traumatic birth
Childbirth is supposed to be an empowering, amazing experience, right? The reality is, for some women, giving birth does not go the way they hoped and planned, and this can be extremely traumatising. Sarah Tennant breaks the silence on traumatic b...
Must-have postpartum care kit items
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Must-have postpartum care kit items
When it comes time to deliver, you’ve likely been mentally preparing for what labour is really like for months. But what about after your baby arrives? From breastfeeding to your first postpartum bowel movement, taking care of your body after chil...
Epidural
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Pain Relief in Labour > Epidural
The use of epidural pain relief during labour is becoming more and more prevalent, and it is estimated that epidurals are administered in approximately 25% of all labours in New Zealand. An epidural is a nerve block that goes into the area surroun...
No ordinary Bassinet
Path : Home > Blogs > No ordinary Bassinet
One thing I look forward to in the third trimester of pregnancy, especially when the nesting urge kicks in, is setting up baby’s sleep space! With baby’s due date just around the corner, it can finally feel like the right time to purchase a bassin...
Why are some babies breech?
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Health and Wellbeing > Why are some babies breech?
Why is it some babies prefer to make their entrance to the world bottoms-up rather than head first? Here's the low-down on being breech. Let's begin with a little history about the word breech, which, at least according to Google, has been used i...
Grace Strange labour and birth
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Grace Strange labour and birth
OHbaby! Editor Kristina Rapley interviewed midwife and birth educator, Grace Strange about what to expect in labour and birth, including how to know when you're in labour, when to call the midwife, what to pack, how birth partners can help, the st...
If Only They Told Me: What birth is really like
Path : Home > Lifestyle > Book club > If Only They Told Me: What birth is really like
NZ-based Jacqueline Lockington and Natalie Cutler-Welsh (above) have turned a highly successful blog into a book (and e-book), offering real-life parenting tips amid much hilarity and fun. Here's an extract, from If Only They’d Told Me: Babies, S...
Prenatal supplements: the essentials
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Health and Wellbeing > Prenatal supplements: the essentials
Our diets alone don’t tend to have all the nutrients our growing babies need in utero. Dr Emma Parry expands on the case for prenatal supplements. We all know that a healthy and nutritious diet is important for our general health. When you’re pre...
Obstetrician or midwife: how & why to choose
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Your Antenatal Guide > Obstetrician or midwife: how & why to choose
Why do some people choose a midwife and others opt for an obstetrician? Pippa Henderson discusses the maternity care available in New Zealand, and how you might choose your LMC. For those new to motherhood, or New Zealand, the acronym LMC can spar...
Blessing in disguise
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Health and Wellbeing > Blessing in disguise
Six months pregnant with number two, and a husband diagnosed with a brain tumor, Carly Thomson discovers that the ‘worst’ timing can be a blessing in disguise. You know those rare and wonderful seasons when it feels like life is all going to plan?...
What to expect if baby will be induced
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > What to expect if baby will be induced
Nearly a third of mums need inductions to bring their babies into the world. Obstetrician Dr Emma Parry outlines what to expect. Induction of labour is the process of bringing labour on earlier than it would naturally happen. It is very common and...
Home birth
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Home birth
Sarah Tennant spells out why home birth is considered safer, more comfortable and less painful for many women than hospital births. There's no denying it, planning a home birth is risky. Not for your baby - for your reputation. Currently about 5%...
The noble placenta
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > The noble placenta
While admittedly not easy on the eye, the noble placenta perhaps deserves a little more respect than it typically receives. Sarah Tennant champions the cause of this remarkable organ. One of my favourite scenes in the vastly underrated Bridget Jon...
When push comes to shove: dads in the delivery room
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > When push comes to shove: dads in the delivery room
The reality of labour and birth can be a bit of an eye-opener for all involved, but especially dads-to-be. Hannah Davidson passes on some advice from fellas who have recently been there. Although I had warned him that things might get primal, noth...
Unpredicable births
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Unpredicable births
Three mums tell Sarah Tennant how, once they’re on their way, even earthquakes, power-cuts and fractured bones won’t stop a baby’s arrival! Birth is unpredictable. The instructor at your antenatal class will tell you this. Your midwife will tell y...
How to heal after a bittersweet birth
Path : Home > PARENTING > For you Mama > How to heal after a bittersweet birth
Babies often enter the world amidst circumstances that weren't on their parents' birth plan. Michelle Parkinson looks at how women feel after giving birth, and how they can heal. I was really keen to have a natural birth for my first child seven y...
New territory
Path : Home > PARENTING > For you Mama > New territory
Globe-trotting Hazel Squair’s fast-paced lifestyle changed dramatically when she discovered she was pregnant. Here she shares an honest account of her journey into motherhood. It’s just after 5am when Andie starts stirring. A grunting little snuf...
What kind of birth do you want?
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > What kind of birth do you want?
Are you pregnant and worried that your labour and birth won't turn out the way you hope? It's your body and your choice - so empower yourself to have a good birth. Like most first-time parents-to-be, my husband and I dutifully signed up for ante...
Contraception after baby
Path : Home > PARENTING > Marriage and Relationships > Contraception after baby
Apart from the occasional harassed new father of four who has rushed straight from the hospital to organise a vasectomy for himself, new parents are often just too busy to give contraception much thought. Many couples assume that the mini-pill or...
Baby's first week: what to expect
Path : Home > Baby > Your Newborn > Baby's first week: what to expect
Welcome to the bold new world of parenting! Midwife Abbe Cherry offers a rough guide to baby’s first week.If only babies came with a set of instructions (and maybe an on/off switch!). All babies are different, however, and this first week will be...
39 weeks pregnant
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Week by week pregnancy > 39 weeks pregnant
If you’re 39 weeks pregnant, that means you’ve carried a baby to term. It’s almost time to meet the little tyke and your body is working hard to keep both of you safe and healthy. You may be feeling more tired than you’ve ever been in this pregnan...
Pregnancy massage
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Health and Wellbeing > Pregnancy massage
Pregnancy, and the first few months following birth, are times of huge change. It is vitally important for an expectant mother to nurture her own body, so that she may, in turn, nourish the life within her. Many women find that regular pregnancy m...
This is postpartum - this is ME!
Path : Home > PARENTING > For you Mama > This is postpartum - this is ME!
The female form is incredible. Growing, nurturing, feeding and relentlessly loving on tiny humans. Yet still we have body issues! Beautiful Mama, it’s time to celebrate – this is me! @thepeacefulhomemakerMummy tummy. We are almost eight weeks post...
How this mum went from 99kg to Ironwoman triathlete!
Path : Home > PARENTING > Health and Wellbeing > How this mum went from 99kg to Ironwoman triathlete!
Alison King talks to Christine Stride about how she went from overweight new mum to four-time Ironman triathlete and multiple marathon finisher. The day I left hospital with my five-day-old baby I should have been feeling so happy. But one feeling...
8 weird ways pregnancy can change your body
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Pregnancy Symptoms > 8 weird ways pregnancy can change your body
Your typical heartburn and morning sickness get plenty of air-time, so Sarah Tennant investigated the more bizarre changes that can occur when our bodies are growing another human. The internet helps connect like-minded people. While the repercus...
Birth photographer
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Pregnancy toolkit > Capturing your Pregnancy - photography and announcements > Birth photographer
You’d pay a professional to photograph your wedding so, Sarah Tennant asks, why not the other most important day in your life? When Southland mum Annie Waters told her friends and family she was planning on hiring a birth photographer, they were a...
Escaping the cloud
Path : Home > PARENTING > Health and Wellbeing > PND > Escaping the cloud
"PND is not a happy thing," Lis Good says emphatically. "It's a weird sensation. You know you should be happy, but you're not." Sitting in her West Auckland home, with the rain beating down on the roof so loudly that we sometimes have to raise our...
More than a mood swing
Path : Home > PARENTING > Health and Wellbeing > PND > More than a mood swing
Picture a typical suburban neighbourhood. The streets are quiet, the lawns are well-kept, and there are flowers blooming in people's gardens. Here and there are signs of life - a dog playing fetch with his owner, a mum walking by with her baby in...
Delayed cord clamping
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Delayed cord clamping
Midwife and antenatal expert, Grace Strange shares the research on why delayed cord clamping is better for your baby. The question surrounding exactly when to cut the cord once a baby has been born has been hotly debated and researched for centur...
Under pressure: pre-eclampsia signs and treatment
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Health and Wellbeing > Under pressure: pre-eclampsia signs and treatment
From headaches to swelling, to ‘silent’ symptoms, pre-eclampsia presents itself in a variety of ways. Dr Nick Walker explains what to look out for and what can be done. Marama*, 25 years old and expecting her first baby, went to see her midwife f...
Labour of love: what is labour REALLY like?
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Labour of love: what is labour REALLY like?
You’re in labour!' It's a loaded statement, but what does it actually mean, and what can you expect? Midwife Abbe Cherry explains. What is labour like? This is actually a really hard question to answer. Labour is such an individual experience; we...
Biology of bonding
Path : Home > Baby > Your Newborn > Biology of bonding
Bonding with your baby: Science, nature, or just random chance? Sarah Tennant investigates the physiology of bonding, discovering the remarkable ways our bodies work to connect us with our offspring. If you were offered a pill to make you a bett...
An update on allergies
Path : Home > Under 5 > Health and well-being > An update on allergies
With allergies seemingly on the increase, Dr Abby Baskett examines the latest research and advice for parents. Most parents will now be familiar with the birthday party dilemma of needing to cater for egg-, nut-, gluten- and dairy-avoidant childre...
The bodyguard
Path : Home > PARENTING > Dad matters > The bodyguard
You might think dads have just a minor part to play in the delivery of a child but, as Hadyn Jones explains, there are many important jobs to do on the big day and beyond. By the time you read this, I will have three kids. This does not in any wa...
Sex FAQs: our expert answers THOSE questions
Path : Home > PARENTING > Marriage and Relationships > Sex FAQs: our expert answers THOSE questions
OHbaby! Sexpert Jo Robertson gives some honest answers to Frequently Asked Questions about intimacy during pregnancy and post-delivery. I’m pregnant and seem to want sex all the time – is that normal?Yes, lots of women find their sex drive incr...
Mind the gap
Path : Home > PARENTING > Health and Wellbeing > Mind the gap
A diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle is a gap that has formed between the two bellies of the rectus abdominis, or "six-pack" muscles. During pregnancy, as the uterus grows in size, the stomach muscles must stretch to accommodate this. Toward...
At risk of a pelvic flaw?
Path : Home > PARENTING > Health and Wellbeing > At risk of a pelvic flaw?
Discussing pelvic floor problems is never going to be sexy. However, pelvic floor dysfunction is common and can cause significant distress for many women. Lisa Yates explains what exactly goes wrong and who is at risk. You need only to attend a p...
When nine months became 28 weeks - one dad's story
Path : Home > Baby > Your Newborn > Premature Babies > When nine months became 28 weeks - one dad's story
It's amazing the feeling of getting the confirmation your wife is pregnant and the realisation that life is about to change. The second thing you think of is, "what have I done?!" Then comes the reality of nine months of love and support until you...
Mark's story - Jack
Path : Home > PARENTING > Dad matters > Dads stories > Mark's story - Jack
It's amazing the feeling of getting the confirmation your wife is pregnant and the realisation that life is about to change. The second thing you think of is, "what have I done?!" Then comes the reality of nine months of love and support until you...
Milestones comparison
Path : Home > Baby > Growth and Development > Milestones comparison
When it comes to baby milestones, comparison is definitely the thief of joy – and parental sanity, writes Hazel Squair. As I watch my squealing, giggling 16-month-old daughter scramble down the hallway, chased by her dad who’s down on all fours, i...
Double trouble
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Twins or More > Double trouble
Multiple pregnancies demand much closer scrutiny to ensure happy, healthy arrivals, writes obstetrician Dr Emma Parry Many a woman, newly pregnant for the first time, has secretly hoped for twins - double the fun with half the effort, right? But,...
Inside knowledge on allergies
Path : Home > Baby > Feeding > Inside knowledge on allergies
Food allergies and intolerances are increasingly prevalent these days. Dietitian Jenny Douglas shares her inside knowledge. Having a young child with food allergies or intolerances can be very worrying for parents. Sometimes it’s hard to know whet...
Motherhood is...
Path : Home > PARENTING > For you Mama > Motherhood is...
To celebrate Mother’s Day in May we asked three authors to contribute their reflections on motherhood — the good , the terrifying and the down-right amusing. IN THE WORDS OF… Cathy Kelly, best-selling fiction author When you’re expecting twins...
Beautiful lessons
Path : Home > PARENTING > Family stories > Beautiful lessons
Sometimes the most beautiful lessons in life are learnt only after going through the unthinkable. Auckland parents Mimi Gilmour Buckley and Stephen Buckley share their incredible journey with us. It’s one of those love at first sight stories tha...
Birthing: most common pain relief options
Path : Home > Pregnancy > Labour and Birth > Pain Relief in Labour > Birthing: most common pain relief options
Dr Morgan Edwards explains the most common pain relief options available during labour and childbirth. Women have been using different coping strategies for pain in childbirth for as long as humans have existed! Interestingly, research suggests t...
Born too soon
Path : Home > Baby > Your Newborn > Premature Babies > Born too soon
How would you cope if your baby was born prematurely and needed to stay in hospital for a significant period of time? Elizabeth Gasson shares the story of her son Johnathan's birth at 34 weeks, and gives advice for parents facing this situation....
Breastfeeding success
Path : Home > Baby > Feeding > Breastfeeding > Breastfeeding success
Midwife and lactation consultant Stephanie Callaghan Armstrong shows us how to get our best latch on for breastfeeding success! Congratulations on having your precious baby! It might seem like breastfeeding should be the most natural thing in the...
Infant jaundice
Path : Home > Baby > Health and wellbeing > Infant jaundice
Midwife, lactation consultant and mum of five, Stephanie Callaghan-Armstrong discusses the reasons behind infant jaundice and what role breastfeeding can have in the process. When your newborn baby starts developing a ‘tan’ including the whites...