Simply Midwifery

01/09/2025

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Let’s talk about waking a sleeping baby. It used to be common to recommend waking a newborn under 2 weeks old every 3 hours to feed. Why? We except babies to lose up to 7-8% of their birth weight in the first 3-4 days and then regain it by 10-14 days. Many hospital staff still recommend this with the expectation that at baby’s 2 week check up, the pediatrician would give the go ahead to let baby sleep as long as they wanted based off regained weight. This is based on research that newborns typically breastfeed a MINIMUM of 8 times in 24 hours (most breastfed babies eat 10-16 times in 24 hours). In reality, if a newborn is feeding well (pain free latch, audible swallows noted, engaged during feedings), if they are gaining weight and peeing/pooping, there’s no reason to wake them to feed. Even from birth. Babies are exhausted from labor as much as you are and sleep is a good thing to recover.

Reasons to wake a baby to feed:
⚖️Lost more than 10% of their birth weight
🍯 Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
⚖️Struggling to gain weight
👅Not efficiently feeding due to tongue ties or an uncoordinated suck
😞Moderate to severe jaundice
🚑Certain medical conditions
💊 Side effects of certain medications is making baby drowsy

Waking a baby to eat because of feeding, jaundice, or weight concerns would be done TEMPORARILY and under the guidance of a team of health care providers. If a pediatrician is recommending to wake baby, and the goal is breastfeeding, they should refer the family to an IBCLC lactation consultant or have the family come into the office for multiple weight checks to stop waking as soon as feeding is on track. Many times a triple feeding plan would be put into place (attempt to latch, pump and supplement) to help establish milk supply and keep baby fed until baby becomes more efficient at feeding. This usually happens within the first 2-3 weeks after birth. Once baby is waking on their own, gaining weight and consistently feeding efficiently, there is no need to wake baby to feed and the triple feeding should be weaned off.

08/07/2025

For those needing pregnancy imms

22/04/2025

Lovely autumn morning at mahi

04/03/2025

Teaching the next generation, my awesome 4th year midwifery student Kahu with her neice, doing an antenatal check on her sister this morning at clinic then having her first home birth this afternoon with a fabulous whanau out east…best day really.

02/02/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19EFR6R1FU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you are looking for some antenatal/postnatal education classes this might be tge buzz. Like that it is affordable and some other clever midwife has sorted it 👏
Even if ya just grab the free birthing bag checklist…
Havent viewed it myself but it is kiwimade 👌🤰🏻🤱

Are you ready to feel confident & prepared for birth & postpartum?!🤱🏼💓👣

Don’t miss your last chance to get $50 of our My Comprehensive Little Kiwi FULL online antenatal course! The early bird special ends midnight Monday 3rd Feb - just in time for the course to go live 🚀

Created by an experienced NZ midwife & mum of 2, this course is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to navigate birth and postpartum feeling informed and empowered 💪🏼

Sign up now and save $50 - offer ends soon!! Click below to secure your spot ⬇️
www.mylittlekiwi.co.nz/courses

20/01/2025

Fyi…some facts to slot into a conversation if ya breast feeding ♥️

20/06/2024

20/05/2024

Hey my people, having a staycation this week. Having some quality time with my 🐶and maybe my partner 🤔🤣. Back monday 27th, locum holding the fort…

04/05/2024

Find what immunisations you need if you are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or have a newborn.

🔹 Planning a pregnancy

We recommend you are up-to-date with all your immunisations if you are planning a pregnancy.

It is particularly important to know if you are immune to:
• Measles
• Rubella
• Chickenpox

You cannot have these immunisations when you become hapū (pregnant). These infections can cause harm to you and your developing baby if you catch them.

🤰 While pregnant

Some diseases are riskier while you are pregnant. You can protect yourself and your pēpi (baby) each time you are pregnant by getting 3 free vaccines:
• Whooping cough
• Flu
• COVID-19

While the vaccines do not affect your pēpi, you will naturally pass on some of your immunity. This means when they are born, they will have some protection until they are old enough to be immunised themselves. This is especially important for whooping cough.

👶 Newborns
Newborn babies are very vulnerable until they are fully immunised. All members of a whānau being fully vaccinated creates a bubble of protection around pēpi.
If you were not immunised against some diseases before or during pregnancy, you can get them after your pēpi is born. It is important you, and your whānau, do this so your baby is protected until they are old enough to be immunised themselves.

If a vaccination has been missed, do not worry, most vaccinations can be caught up. If you are unsure if you or your whānau are up-to-date with your vaccinations, contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider.

All vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule are free and safe while breastfeeding.

➡️ Find out more about immunisations and pregnancy: https://info.health.nz/.../pregnancy-and-immunisations/

27/04/2024

You can catch influenza (flu), COVID and whooping cough at any time of the year.
Getting immunised against these illnesses every time you are pregnant will protect you and your pēpi from getting seriously unwell, until they can have their first immunisations at 6 weeks old. 🤰

👶 Newborns and young infants are more likely to end up in hospital with the flu than older children, so the protection they receive from you in the womb could make all the difference.

🤰 If you are in your second or third trimester, you can get the flu vaccine and whooping cough booster vaccine at the same visit. Both immunisations are free when you’re pregnant.

If you are due a COVID-19 vaccine, or other vaccinations, you may be able to get your flu vaccination at the same time. Having all your immunisations provides the best possible protection for you and your unborn baby.

🗓️ If you’re planning a pregnancy, it’s recommended that you’re up to date with other immunisations such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox, as these infections can cause serious harm to your unborn baby. You can’t have these immunisations when you’re pregnant.

For more information about the benefits of the vaccination, talk to your midwife, Plunket nurse, or GP.

➡️ https://info.health.nz/.../pregnancy-and-immunisations/

22/04/2024

Love having the ability and opportunity to peek into the womb to check on these wee people…it’s still a highlight in my day. Thanks to all the mums who allow me to do this ♥️

15/03/2024

I get the feeling this baby is saying “what you looking at” 🤣
I offer free pregnancy scans…for reassurance or no particular reason. I have been scanning for 13 years and it still is the best part of my job ♥️