Manaaki Midwives

02/08/2025

🌻 The birth of Arthur - Shared by whanau with consent a first time mumma supported by the wonderful Lizz at Manaaki & student Midwife Sharna! 🌻

'My labour and birth started in the early hours of what should have been my last day of work (38
weeks). I had literally just had my appointment with Lizz about how to contact her if I went into
labour only 4 days prior!
As a first time mum with a very much loved IVF pregnancy I knew that I wanted to have a
natural waterbirth after looking at different options, however I wasn’t opposed to medication if itwas needed.

My labour started at 1:45am in the morning after waking up right before feeling the POP of my
waters breaking. Thankfully I got out of bed fast enough to avoid a wet mattress! After sending
an email off to Lizz I tried going back to sleep, however my contractions had other plans as they
started out at 10 minutes apart. By 7am my contractions were stronger and had increased to 5mins apart, at this point I got up, rang Lizz and updated her and then started to set our place up
with a calming atmosphere, relaxation music and a candle. The pain for me was fine then and
Lizz said to give her a ring back when my contractions were around 3 mins apart. At this point Iwas like ok, must still be a while off…. Yeah… think I got that wrong! 🤣

By 9am I was consistently contracting every 3 mins and Lizz was called to come for a check.
While waiting for her to arrive I jumped into the shower, using the water to help with focus and
relaxation during the contractions. Both Lizz and Sharna (student midwife) arrived around 10:30
and after an initial chat Lizz checked my dilation, which was 4cm, so off to the hospital we went.
Nobody warned me how annoying sitting still in a car would be while working through
contractions! PS any future mums use the back seat, the front sucks!
We had made it to the hospital by 11:30, according to my husband, I had lost track of time as my
contractions were thick and fast with very minimal time in between.

Lizz was exactly who I needed at this point, I could really feel a lot of pain through my hips and through pressure on the outside of my hips she was able to relieve this during contractions. Just before 12:30 Lizz checked me again and I was fully dilated, and involuntary pushing.Then it was all go! I moved to the bath pretty quick at this point and started pushing shortly after!

A few things really stuck out to me during this time: I loved the feeling of Arthur crowing and am so thankful Lizz asked if I wanted to feel it! The feeling of relief when his head came out was amazing, followed by the immediate shock of him shooting out and Lizz saying “pick up your baby from the water.” The images I have in my head of those moments, as well as picking him up out of the water for the first time are nothing short of magical for me, and such a surreal moment!

I was so proud of myself for having a natural water birth, but also so thankful that my body, the atmosphere we created and the support and guidance from Lizz, Sharna and my husband
allowed me to have the birth of my dreams.
My gorgeous Arthur had finally arrived at 1:07pm after 10 hours of labour and 30 mins of pushing.
Taking him home after a couple days in hospital was such a surreal and emotional moment.

I’m so incredibly grateful for Lizz, taking me on at 30 weeks after my initial midwife moved cities.

The care and guidance Lizz provided along with Sharna was one that I was sad to see go onour discharge from Midwife care. The start of my husband’s and my journey as parents was onethat I will never forget thanks to Lizz!'

💚 We love hearing your birth stories, if you've had a birthing experience with Manaaki Midwives and happy to share your journey and story please get in touch, Sharing the wide range of differing birthing experiences for expecting whanau is truly the best! 💚

02/08/2025

Anna's next KGHypnobirthing course has just been announced ❤️ Visit Anna Driver Birth Services to find out more 👇

01/08/2025

This couldn't be more true 💚

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B4GfAqL5D/

I saw a post recently about how a woman wondered if her midwife thought about her too.

And we do.

I think about you all, all of the time. In joy and sadness.

I have all of your cards. I look at them when I need to remember why I do this.

I cry to songs that remind me of witnessing you meet your baby after losing their sibling the year before.

I smile at the tattoos on my arms that remind me of the conversations I’ve had with you about them in labour. “That one makes me feel safe, because I know you care about your job” are words I always think about when I look at the midwife tattoo I have on my arm.

I cry when I hear the songs they played at your funeral 💜

I still laugh thinking about the time you gave me your p*e in a Dorito dip jar.

I pierced my other nostril because it looked cool on you!

I laugh to myself thinking about you flicking me the middle finger when I asked you to change position in labour.

I remember the joy in your face when you finally met your longed for baby after so many losses.

I remember crying along with you when you cried that your dad wouldn’t meet your baby.

I think about being one of so few people who got to meet your baby when they died. I think about your baby a lot. I remember all their names.

I think about you when I see space buns.

I remember how tightly you held my hand as they put you under general anaesthetic.

I feel proud when I remember you birthing your baby in your home after seeing how nervous you were to tell me you wanted a homebirth (and the relief when I replied “wahay”).

I remember to butter the toast to the edges because you said dry corners were “evil”.

I remember the look on your face when I walked into your birthing room “is that my midwife?!”

I think about you when the country you had to flee from is on the news.

I think about how proud I am that you managed to get clean.

I think about how brave you were to tell me that you didn’t feel safe at home.

I think about how much I liked your dog.

I think about the look on your face mid emergency when you knew I had you.

And I feel so lucky that I get to walk through all these journeys with you all. Through the joy and the sorrow. There is no greater privilege than being a midwife.

Thank you for letting me be part of it all. I don’t mind if you don’t remember my name, but I remember you ❤️

28/07/2025

💚✨ Bookings opened for April 2026 ✨💚

Our wonderful Shari will be on leave for April therefore not taking clients for this month. Gemma, Jade, Hayley AN Lizz all have spaces for April at present.

Bookings remain full from Jan through to March 2026 across Manaaki Midwives 💚

This year is just flying by! ✨

28/07/2025

Update - lower hutt afterhours has moved!
📍 See below post for info.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16z7VsdBmj/

NEW HUTT VALLEY AFTER-HOURS PHARMACY IN OPERATION

The Lower Hutt Urgent Pharmacy on High Street will be closing down today, 28 July.

From 29 July, an after-hours pharmacy service will be available at Connolly Street Pharmacy, which is located on the ground floor of the Verve building, under the relocated After Hours Medical Centre.

Connolley Street Pharmacy will be open 8.30am-10pm Monday to Sunday including public holidays.

24/07/2025

How fantastic is this?!

At Kupega o Moana in the Hutt Valley, we provide FREE yes Free Antenatal Education Classes for Pregnant Mums and their Partners or Supporting persons.
Please get in touch if you are pregnant so we can get you into a program suitable to you and your Aiga.
We provide Week days, Weekends classes and evening online sessions.
Out of Wellington women are welcome.

24/07/2025

The birth of Aria - Shared by Sasha and whānau with consent! 💚✨

"My birth story is one I can't share enough! As an A-type personality (i.e. control freak) I was surprisingly calm in the lead up to giving birth of my first child. Attending antenatal had prepared me for all types of interventions, and I decided to have no 'plan' other than birth in the hospital. I had listened to only one podcast on Hypnobirthing as preparation which did actually come in handy when it came to pushing (but more on that later). Lizz my midwife had also been a constant support since I was 6 weeks pregnant so she knew me well and had created a sense of security and stability leading up to birth.

My waters broke the morning after my due date and contractions started pretty quickly and were roughly 3 minutes apart from the outset. I spent early labour at home and then went to the hospital once the pain had me crying out for gas which certainly wasn't at home. Several hours later and only 2cms more dilated I made the call to have an epidural. I had heard stories about the anaesthetist taking ages or it not working but this was done super quick and successfully which meant I finally had relief and could take in my surroundings and the experience of what was happening. So much so I put my eye mask on had a nap while my partner watched the Warriors (yes, they won).

After a blissful, calm few hours of chats and monitoring, I was fully dilated and ready to push. I did end up having the Doctor and support team rush in due to the baby's heart rate dropping and also the head not being positioned quite right so there was talk of suction cups, forceps and worse case C-section. But Lizz and the student midwife Sharna made the busy room and possibilities seem normal and calm. On push one I utilised 'down breathing' and had a room full cheers and positive encouragement and I was determined to do this on my own. With my partner coaching me and telling me I could 'give a bit more' I pushed only a few more times, even having the opportunity to touch my baby's head coming out which was such a surreal experience. In only 24 minutes I met my precious daughter Aria! Even better was I had no internal tearing so I had a great postpartum recovery.

A huge part of my positive birth experience was down to Lizz and our student midwife Sharna being there for over 24 hours, seeing me through active labour and recovery. Both their calm and constant presence meant I could ask questions, get reassurance, and meaningful care. From surrendering to whatever would be, I ended up with the most perfect birth and a beautiful surprise of a girl at the end of it!"

We love hearing your birth stories, if you've had a birth experience with any of the Midwives at Manaaki Midwives you'd love to share please get in touch! 🌻

23/07/2025

Check out Wainuiomata and Waterloo upcoming playgroup, Just pop in have a coffee an catch up with other like-minded parents! 😊

ℹ️ See posters for time and dates below! ✨

23/07/2025

Check out this upcoming event through Lower Hutt Parents Centre

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CKRDDSZ9Y/

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the esteemed Dr. Julie Bhosale to present her highly acclaimed 'Starting Solids' information session.

The event details are as follows: Wednesday, 13th August 2025, 10am - 12pm at St. Augustines, Petone.

There will be a talk and then plenty of time for questions.
Babies are obviously welcome

To secure your spot, kindly follow the provided link.
Tickets are priced at $20 per person.
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/starting-solids-with-dr-julie-bhosale-tickets-1514283094499?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/07/2025

💚✨ The birth of Laekin, Shared with consent from Jaymee - A late diagnosis of pre-eclampsia followed by Misoprostol Induction ✨💚

It all started on Wednesday 27th November, I had attended my 39 week appointment with Jade as normal. Unfortunately during this appointment we discovered my blood pressure had crept up and I needed to head to the hospital for monitoring. I went home, packed a bag and me and my partner headed to the hospital about 6pm to meet with Jade, I was diagnosed that evening with Pre Eclampsia and was given options for induction! The following day is when a plan was made for me to be induced, Friday 29th November - the doctors came and did their rounds and advised they were starting my induction using Misoprostal (oral medication), I had a dose every 2 hours up until 11pm that evening. Unfortunately no pains or any sign baby was making his arrival, fast forward to Saturday 30th November 8am is where things started happening after my first dose of misoprostal for the day. I lost my mucus plus and pains were slowly starting, these progressed over the course of the day. I walked the hospital, did figure 8’s on the Swiss ball and rested to fill in time and ease the pain. I tried to put up with the pain as long as I could but it was all in my back and getting quite intense, I believe it was around 8-9pm where I asked for an epidural and was about 4cms dilated. The anaesthetist came and gave me my epidural and after my waters were broken, I reached 5 cms about midnight where Jade came in and took over from the hospital midwives. We chatted inbetween me sleeping while my partner slept in the fold out chair beside me the whole process felt very relaxed! After a little sleep and an amazing epidural I’d reached 8cms by about 4am. 8am rolls round and I’m 10cms, it’s time to push! I hadn’t had much sleep the night before and was already exhausted so that wasn’t a great start, what felt like about 5 hours of pushing was actually only about an hour and 15 minutes. Jade could see I was struggling, so she had a great idea to use a towel to pretty much tug of war to help me push. I would not have got him out without Jade’s help, I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere with my pushing and felt like giving up so many times because I was so tired. She gave me the encouragement and knowledge on how to move forward, I truly could not have done it without her.

Our son Laekin Piripi makes his arrival at 9.27am, the most magical feeling I’ve ever felt having him on my chest!

Jade made the process so effortless as she whisked around the room to make sure myself, dad and baby are algood along with giving the most exceptional care to our newborn beautiful boy with all his checks in his first moments of life. The team of midwives who followed at Hutt Hospital were also exceptional, I am so thankful for all these lovely ladies. But most importantly Jade who cared for me for a full 9 months of pregnancy and then helped me have such an amazing birth!