Families Commission

For more information about maternity services and choosing your LMC, call free on 0800 MUM 2 BE (0800 686 223). This line is not for counselling, clinical or medical advice.

Mama Maternity Information Services offers useful information about choosing your LMC.
Kiwi Families has good information about choosing your LMC and about childbirth.
Kiwi Families covers what to eat during pregnancy
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority provides detailed information about food safety in pregnancy.
The Ministry of Health offers a comprehensive paper on nutrition in pregnancy and after childbirth.
Littlies has useful information about miscarriages.
Parents Centre New Zealand offers parent education programmes, including antenatal classes.
Birthwise provides information through an antenatal programme, helping parents make informed, natural birth choices.

Who can be your LMC?

Independent midwife. A midwife is suitable if you have a normal pregnancy and birth. If complications arise, she may refer you to another midwife or obstetrician.
GP. Your doctor may provide pregnancy care but refer you to an obstetrician if there are serious complications. They may then work with an independent or hospital midwife. There are fewer GPs now in this role.

Private obstetrician. This is a doctor who specialises in managing complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the post natal period. Some women choose an obstetrician for their normal pregnancies. Care may be shared with an independent or hospital midwife.

Hospital midwife. These midwives provide antenatal and post natal care to women in hospital, and support independent midwives and doctors during births. They are not the LMC.

Hospital team. Some hospital midwives work in teams, providing care to women in the community and in the hospital.

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Who can be your LMC?