Keri Mapperson - Queenstown midwife-mama

12/05/2025

Let’s talk about why a successful VBAC is more than just a single experience—it’s a game-changer for future births.

If you’ve had one VBAC, your chances of having another successful VBAC go way up—studies show success rates can reach 85–90+% with each subsequent VBAC. Your body has done it before, and it’s more likely to do it again. 🙌

But that’s not all. A prior successful VBAC can actually decrease your risk of uterine rupture in subsequent labors. After one successful VBAC, that risk can drop to as low as 0.2%—lower than the average risk quoted for someone attempting their first VBAC.

This is powerful information for anyone on their VBAC journey, and it's exactly why your birth experience matters not only for today, but for all the births that may come after.

Whether you’re preparing for your first VBAC or already celebrating one, know this: your body, your choices, and your birth story are building something bigger.

02/03/2024

A widespread myth about infant sleep is - babies need to fall asleep alone for naps, bedtime and when they wake in the night - in order to build lifelong sleep health.

The exact opposite is true. When we accompany infants 0-3 years and children to sleep we build lifelong sleep health by:

🧠 Lending our adult brain so infants enter sleep in a rest and digest parasympathetic state

🧠 Create an association between sleep and a feeling of safety and comfort

🧠 Facilitate brain waves in sleep that are more restorative

🧠 Influence less night waking

🧠 Help them go to sleep faster

🧠 Influence their childhood, adolescent and adult sleep to be more consolidated, better quality, reduced insomnia

If we’ve been trying to get our baby to fall asleep alone or if we’ve been leaving them to fall asleep alone - and we see our baby is struggling with this - consider making a change. If we’re a new parent please know - your baby needs you and that’s simultaneously normal, expected and challenging.

Our presence makes all the difference in their developing brain between stress and nurture. It builds the brain towards resilience and builds sleep health.

When babies and children have sleep nurtured they grow up to sleep independently.

You can learn more in my 3 part sleep works up that starts April 5. Comment SLEEP and I’ll send you more information. Or link in bio.

Share far and wide to normalize the support for infant sleep and share The Nurture Revolution 💜🧠💜

23/02/2024

So so true. My beautiful best friend recently had her first baby post 40 and I was so excited to see her on the other side too.

"Recently, a friend texted me: Here we go, she said. It was a photo of her in a hospital gown.

Lovely and tired, she was in labor and I felt ever so vividly where she was. ⁣⁣⁣
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I remembered myself in her place.

I remembered the childless girl who went into a labor and delivery ward scared and in pain and full of wonder and naivety and fear and excitement.

I remember being embarrassed when my water broke in a Hollywood-style fashion all over a cold hospital floor with wonderful strangers around me.

I remember the hours that followed.

There was so much unknown. ⁣⁣⁣
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I remember the feeling of lightness when Sunday arrived and the heaviness in the days that followed when the visitors left and the hormones crashed and a wave of newness like nothing I’d ever known came over me. ⁣⁣⁣
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In a way, when I saw my friend’s text, I missed the girl I was when I walked into the hospital that day. The one who lived in a tiny little apartment and took long runs and longer showers and lounged with coffee and slept in. I don’t always feel like I know her anymore. Glimpses of her, maybe. But not the full her. ⁣⁣⁣
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In a way, I wanted to say to my friend: Live in those last few moments. Hug your husband. Cherish that time. ⁣⁣
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But I didn’t. ⁣⁣⁣
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I also knew that contractions hurt and it was hard (because it is) and being so close to the unknown is so uncomfortable yet so strangely spiritual. ⁣⁣⁣
I also wanted to say this: That the person she is becoming, the person she will become tonight, will awe the person she is right now.

I wanted to tell her that the little baby she was about to meet will introduce her to herself. ⁣
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I wanted to tell her that the days that are about to follow will be hard—but that it would all be okay. Because the mess of it all is what makes it so beautiful.

(But in quiet moments she’ll always dream about lazy afternoons.)⁣
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I didn’t though.

Instead I told her she was doing great.

I told her I’d be here if she needed me.

I told her I couldn’t wait to see her on the other side. 🤍"

📸:

20/02/2024

07/01/2024

05/01/2024

So effective!

15/12/2023

The power of words. I imagine the removal and storage of babies' blood would not be so marketable if we called it what it was. Full blog post: https://midwifethinking.com/2015/09/16/cord-blood-collection-confessions-of-a-vampire-midwife/

09/10/2023

A walk to remember:

As some of you maybe already aware, Baby Loss Awareness week is the 9th - 15th of October and this year we would like to honour all the precious babies that have left us too soon with a ‘walk to remember.’

We invite you to join us on Sunday the 15th of October at 10am on Frankton beach, where we will walk together down the Frankton Track (as far as each individual would like) and meet at the Boatshed cafe for coffee and snacks afterwards.

It will be very casual, open to everyone, bring friends, families and furry friends. An opportunity to walk and talk, meet others and find strength together on this special day.

Please feel free to message us with any questions and we look forward to meeting you there.

06/10/2023

🤍🤍 VERNIX CASEOSA 🤍🤍
Vernix is a thick creamy waxy substance that covers the body of the newborn (reminds me of cocoa butter!). It's seen more in babies born a couple of weeks prior to the 'due date' as it reduces towards the end of pregnancy. It is made up of water, fats and proteins.

The vernix protects and nourishes the baby's soft skin, has antimicrobial properties and acts as a barrier in the uterus to stop the amniotic fluid macerating the skin in the womb. Can you imagine how your skin would look after 9 months in the bath!

Vernix is thought to help with an easier transition through the birth canal and it thought to aid temperature regulation at birth.

When a baby is born, the newborn skin undergoes a number of changes and adaptions to the outside world in terms of PH and hydration. Vernix helps to regulate these changes so its worthwhile not bathing baby to soon. Think of vernix as a moisturiser and rub it in rather than wipe it off!

It is recommended by WHO to wait at least 24 hours before bathing a newborn (I would even say 2/3 days) as it has its benefits including reduced risk of infection, better temperature regulation, more skin to skin time leading to better breastfeeding outcomes and blood sugar regulation. If your baby has a little dried blood in their hair and it bothers you, you can always wipe the hair gently with a cloth and warm water.

> > Was your baby born with a little or a lot of vernix?

> > How long did you wait to bathe your baby after birth?

Informative post by
Pic: VIA

06/10/2023

We DON'T care whether you choose to have an epidural, or gas and air or an abdominal birth... ⁠
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We DO care that you have options. ⁠
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We DO care that you are supported. ⁠
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We DO care that your choices are respected. ⁠
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We DO care that YOU are respected. ⁠
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If you want to plan for a positive birth, head to our instructor's directory and find one of our incredible instructors in your area. ⁠
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⁠https://www.thecalmbirthschool.com/instructor-directory/

Liz x

06/10/2023

things to remember about voting in new
zealand:
- you don't need your easyvote card
-you don't need photo id or proof of address
- you don't need to be in your electorate
- you don't need to be enrolled

06/10/2023

Due to some of my client families moving away from Queenstown soon, I now have spaces for women with due dates in February, March and April of 2024. Please let me know if you’re still looking for a midwife for these dates.

UPDATE: march now fully booked but a space available in April still, and potentially February or late Jan