Kumeu & Helensville Midwives

10/04/2026

Midwives on call this weekend
• Sheridan - 021816800
• Heidi - 0272266655
• Phoebe - 02102390741
• Julia - 0210708628
• Eartha - 02102649047

31/03/2026

Why do we love waterbirths?

Warm water immersion during labour supports the release of two of our favourite hormones:
Oxytocin – the “love” and labour hormone, and
Endorphins – the body’s natural pain relief.

At the same time, it helps suppress catecholamines (stress hormones released during fear, pain, or anxiety). This encourages activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, helping women feel calmer, safer, and more relaxed during labour.

What does the evidence show?

Waterbirth is associated with a range of benefits, including:
• A gentler transition for babies
• Lower rates of respiratory distress in babies born in water
• Reduced incidence of fetal malpresentation
• Less need for epidural pain relief
• Reduced likelihood of labour augmentation (e.g. IV oxytocin or artificial rupture of membranes)
• A greater sense of privacy and protection during labour
• Increased feelings of autonomy and control for women
• Shorter duration of labour
• Fewer medical interventions overall
• Lower risk of severe perineal tearing
• Reduced risk of significant postpartum bleeding

Is waterbirth right for you?

Talk with your midwife about whether waterbirth is a suitable option for your pregnancy and birth plan.

Want to explore the research?
• BMJ Open (2022): https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/7/e056517
• PMC Article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9035022/
• Cochrane Review: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000111.pub4/full
• BJOG Study: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.17878

Podcast recommendations
• Evidence Based Birth – Episode 300: Evidence on Waterbirth
• The Great Birth Rebellion – Episode 188: Waterbirth: Risks and Safety

Photo posted with consent ❤️

23/03/2026

We love our roles as midwives, and we are much more than that too! We are mothers, partners, sisters, aunties, and daughters ❤️
It's coming up to that time of year again where we are planning our holiday time off, as our mamas are beginning to conceive for the month of December. If you are planning a pregnancy please keep this in mind as it may be more difficult to find a midwife during this time.
Photos shared with consent of baby boy born to the sound of his dad's beautiful Karakia and to the touch of his mums loving hands on at 1931 24/12/2024.

18/03/2026

Some great tips from Glowing Birth NZ on using a tens machine 🙌

18/03/2026

Sneak peak into our Kumeū clinic ✨
A beautiful heritage cottage tucked off the main road. Here our midwives welcome you with a big smile and open heart 💛 We are fortunate in Aotearoa New Zealand to have our continuity of care model, where you can have a lead maternity carer 'LMC' midwife to care for you throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Building these relationships creates a foundation for trust and partnership for a positive birth experience ✨💛✨💛✨💛✨

11/03/2026

We love supporting you,
And supporting each other whether it's out in the community, being a helping hand at births, covering clinics when your midwife has been up all night or getting another opinion on helping a baby feed at home.
Our weekly meetings means as midwives we are all on the same page on how to best care for you and your whānau. We are able to discuss the latest research and practice guidelines to make sure we are giving the most up to date information and look forward to sharing more with you on this page.

20/02/2026

Welcome to Kumeū & Helensville Midwives — an established midwifery practice proudly serving the North West Auckland community for over 25 years. Our experienced team works collaboratively to support women and whānau throughout their pregnancy and birth journey, and into the postpartum with their baby. We support births at home, Helensville Birthing Centre and Waitakere & North Shore hospitals providing individualised care by working in partnership and building relationships.

As a holistic group, we place whānau at the heart of everything we do, honouring each family’s unique needs, values, and hopes. Our midwives are primary birth specialists, offering personalised, continuity of care throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Whether this is your first baby or you’re growing your whānau, we are here to walk beside you with knowledge, compassion, and respect. Haere mai, we look forward to connecting with you.

24/11/2025

I’m a passionate Midwife and Lactation Consultant based in beautiful north-west Auckland. It’s a privilege to walk alongside women and whānau during such a life-changing time, and I truly believe every pregnancy and birth is a unique journey — one that deserves to be positive, empowering, and centred around you.

I take a holistic approach to care, supporting your choices throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Whether you’re planning to birth at home or at a primary facility like the Helensville Birthing Centre, I’m here to ensure you feel safe, informed, and supported every step of the way.

While I specialise in primary care, I also maintain strong links with local hospitals to ensure a smooth and safe transition if anything unexpected arises. Your safety and peace of mind are always my top priorities.

As both a midwife and lactation consultant, I’m committed to providing up-to-date, evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions that align with your values.

📧 reneebuissonmidwifery@gmail.com

📞 021 053 8099

23/11/2025

Kia Ora e hoa, Welcome to the Kumeu Midwives. My name is Sheri and want to congratulate you on your pregnancy. This journey is going to be exciting and so empowering & I cannot wait to walk alongside you through this space. I am a māmā of two teenage daughters, have loads of tattoos and enjoy a good laugh!! I am born and raised in west Auckland and rural west Auckland, so I will be birthing through Home, Helensville birth centre, Waitakere hospital and North shore hospital. I believe in doing my best to create a physiological birthing experience and understand that sometimes along the journey it can change, so I will talk with you on making informed decisions with other health professionals that are appropriate to your care. I am huge on partnership, informed decision making and cultural awareness. This guides the way I practise and helps me ensure the best care possible for you and your baby. I look forward to this awesome journey with you.

Email me @ sheri.midwifenz@gmail.com

Txt me on 021816800 between 9am and 5pm.

Please send your name, your due date, what number baby and preferred place of birth.

I only do antenatal clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays. Clinic is located in Kumeu.

23/11/2025

Congratulations on your pregnancy! My name is Tulsi and I live in North-West Auckland with my family. Having children of my own inspired my path to midwifery, and I am passionate about working in partnership with women and birthing people to have a positive and meaningful birth experience. Having a baby is such a transformative time in your life, and it is a privilege to work in the childbirth space. My aim is to support you to make informed choices that are right for you on your unique journey, to foster confidence and empowerment. My clinic is in Helensville and I work closely with my practice partner Eartha Healy, and a wonderful supportive team of midwives from the Helensville-Kumeu area. I specialise in supporting whanau birthing at home or at the Helensville Birthing Centre. I also have access with North Shore and Waitakere hospitals should hospital care be needed.

Please call or txt 0226788441 between 9-5 Monday to Friday, or email me tulsimidwife@gmail.com

08/10/2025

There's free car seat support coming up if you would like support with installation 🌼

With thanks to Auckland Transport we have another pop up day for support with your car seats. Wednesday 15th October 3pm - 5.30pm.

Do you want to check if your car seat is installed correctly? There are so many different types of car seats, and different attachments depending on what type of you have. Pop in for some free friendly advice and see if you need to make any adjustments.

If you are considering a new car seat, or upgrading to a larger seat for your tamariki, the team can talk to you about what would work best for your car.

Free service, with no bookings required. Pop in to 1 Porter crescent Helensville, Wednesday 17th October between 3pm and 5.30pm

11/04/2025

If you are expecting a baby in dec and jan please remember to get in contact with us early ! We are already getting lots of enquiries and filling up space with the midwives that are working 🤪