Katrina Winter Midwife

07/06/2023

27/03/2023

02/01/2023

With the end of 2022 and the first clinic of 2023, I thought I would do a recap of last year (idea from ) 🌈

In 2022 I cared for 93 woman over the year, from antenatal, labour & birth and/or postnatal.
Of those I cared for 53 woman in labour and birth and had 53 beautiful babies born into the world. 💫
🌼38 laboured of which 10 were water births 💦
🌸10 went on to have unplanned caesareans
🌹5 via planned elective caesareans
🌻4 woman birthed at home.

👼1 beautiful little boy who gained his wings early 💙

All of these births being absolutely incredible grateful to be a part of. 🌟

I didn’t do it alone though, I had the help of the best work wife I could ask for! Erin () who cared for 18 of my woman over the year and supported and encouraged me when needed🙌. We each spent our time in isolation after getting Covid 🦠and I was right behind her with birthing 17 of her woman 💞.

💜 Must also thank the great student midwives Rebecca and Tyla who facilitated at least 6 of those births. They will be heading out to start their own caseload this year 👏

📷 - Shared with permission

16/08/2022

📣 PSA 📣

There is a survey currently being sent out to families who have birthed in NZ within a certain time period, asking them about their experience birthing within our maternity system. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO COMPLETE IT. But if you don’t receive it, there is still so much you can do to help!

From those first nerve wracking weeks of pregnancy, to the birth and first overwhelming weeks as new parents, our midwives hold us through the entire journey.

The bond we form with our midwife is so incredibly unique and impossible to replicate.

Every scan and blood result, every listen in to baby’s heartbeat, all the highs and the lows, the intimate questions and trust to care for our bodies and babies, our midwives handle it all with the utmost grace, professionalism and love.

Imagine a system where you didn’t see that same person each visit, when you had absolutely no idea who would be there to deliver your baby, where there was no relationship at all. It’s a saddening thought.

We KNOW that our midwifery model of care works, we KNOW that the continuity care we are so lucky to receive in New Zealand results in the best outcomes for people birthing here and their babies.

To strip away our current model of care and move to a more NHS style system would be a dark day for birth in New Zealand.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… if you have had an amazing experience and value your midwife and our model of care then we need to FIGHT and make NOISE for our incredible midwives!! Share your experience, email your local MP, they need to know how important our midwives and our model are to Nz ❤️

10/08/2022

Pregnancy yoga back on at River Ridge and hearing some great reviews 🌸

12/07/2022

💛💛💛 We are so excited to have Lydia here at River Ridge East Birth Centre offering pregnancy massage. Get in touch with her directly to book! 💛💛💛

22/06/2022

"My most anxious part of the day: dinner/getting ready for bed. Anyone else with me on this?

Quite often we have the TV on, a dog licking some snack off the table, or I’m cuddling someone whilst trying to prepare something.

I was lucky enough Cal captured this beauty last night. It sums up our witching hour. It sums up the tricky part of my day. AND it sums up how beautiful motherhood is.

Amongst this chaos and my anxiety around dinner time a cuddle with an overtired toddler and rushing along undercooked pasta (don’t ask) is a special moment in time that I’m grateful for.

Usually it’s hard for me to see the positives/gratefulness stuff in these moments but with the photo I was able to.

It’s true what they say, more photos of Mama need to be taken! Cheers babe for capturing this moment in time whilst trying to tile the kitchen at the same time!"

Credit:

22/06/2022

The BBC's new medical drama shows the gender pain gap.

15/06/2022

Many you would of had the pleasure to meet my student Julia last year. After graduating and starting out in LMC practice all her equipment was stolen from her car. This is equipment that was paid for out of her own pocket as you need to have this before you start working and earning money.
If you could help at all, that would be amazing 🤩 if not sharing would also be much appreciated 🖤

Newly graduated midwife's car and essential equipment stolen.

12/06/2022

Our body’s created and grew a tiny human

"I lay down at the beach and look down at my body. I see the changes. I see stretch marks on my stomach, I see wrinkles at my breasts. Sometimes the changes can be hard to look at, some days even I feel bad

But then... I looked PAST my body. Do you see the boy running there? That's Liam. The boy I made, the baby that was in MY stomach. The baby that my breast’s magical produced milk for so he could survive on just me.

How amazing is that? Sometimes you have to look at the BIGGER PICTURE, just like in this one. So you can remind your mindset to tell you how incredibly amazing you are, and how proud you should be of it.

We all did an amazing job, marks or not."

Credit: