Heather Hames Midwife

01/01/2024

Happy new year to everyone
May 2024 be filled with joy and happiness.
My first baby for the new year arrived at 9 minutes past midnight - what an amazing way to greet the new year!

04/12/2023

We had a lovely Christmas morning tea for all our families from the last 12 months today.
So lovely to catch up with those that could make it. Thank you so much for taking the time to come and see us

21/08/2023

How precious is our maternity system - I feel privileged to work here in NZ. However it isn't a perfect system and is unfortunately under resourced and under threat.

27/07/2023

This is a huge shift to the way we manage mastitis..good info to have

Mastitis happens to about 15% of māmā who give birth. Here are the new recommendations for managing breast inflammation and mastitis while breastfeeding.

We used to recommend heat and massage, but that is no longer advisable.

Save a copy of this in case you need it. Kia kaha.

08/07/2023

This is a good read for those of you planning on breastfeeding

By preparing for breastfeeding you give yourself a much better chance of beating the ‘booby traps’ and getting through the early days more easily.

28/06/2023

This is worth thinking about..

The ✨REST AND DIGEST✨ period is a key principle of The Thompson Method for Breastfeeding and is highly effective in the slowing and calming of the baby's digestive system and in reducing the risk of reflux and colic.

Laying your baby comfortably on your knee, allows time for the milk from the first breast to be pre-digested and transferred from the stomach to the intestine, before completing the feed on the second breast

While resting, you'll observe your baby stretching out to aid in the digestive process before demonstrating cues of readiness to complete the feed on the second breast

This is also a good time for a nappy change to prevent disturbing the satisfied baby from drifting into peaceful sleep

Why not try this simple yet effective technique the next time you breastfeed your baby?

11/06/2023

07/06/2023

04/06/2023

For some New Zealanders, the cost of mobile data can be a barrier to accessing essential health & wellbeing information and digital health services.

Zero Data (www.zero.govt.nz) removes this barrier by providing free access to key health sector websites for anyone using the Spark, Skinny, One NZ, 2degrees, Warehouse Mobile, Slingshot or Orcon mobile networks.

All mobile data charges for content accessed through this portal are automatically charged back to Te Whatu Ora.

Websites available via www.zero.govt.nz include ACC, Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority, Need to talk?, Unite against COVID-19, Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health and many more.

01/05/2023

Learning about shared sleep and ways to minimise risk should be part of every new parent’s education. Here’s a graphic to help with some basics ❤️✨

EDITED TO ADD: to all who have come to fearmonger and spread your anti-cosleeping sentiment, thanks for the added traction and reach. As was stated the last time you all appeared here, we will continue to advocate for a risk minimisation approach to safer shared sleep because this is what the evidence base tells us serves families and realities and improves safety in sleep environments. You can keep crusading your cause, you can keep shouting and terrifying people into not even knowing how to reduce risk and we will keep on doing what we know is needed.
Just so we are all clear, you won't scare us into silence, but you can bet your bottom dollar we will keep your scare tactics and takedowns off of our page.
But keep that traction and spread going ... we appreciate your assistance with that 🥰