06/05/2024
International Day of the Midwife: A Vital Climate Solution
The theme of International Day of the Midwife this year is a vital climate solution. This reflects the important role midwives can play in protecting the environment.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora midwives based at Kaitaia Hospital Maternity Unit strive to protect the environment through the provision of care and services that are local and close to home.
“We uphold the values of manaaki, caring and sustaining one another to provide an excellent maternity service which puts whānau at the centre of care,” says Shelley Tweedie, Clinical Midwife Manager at Kaitaia Hospital.
The Kaitaia Maternity Unit is the most northern birthing facility in Aotearoa, providing maternity care and services to people of the Far North over a widespread area.
The birthing unit is staffed 24/7 by at least one midwife and there is always another midwife available to be called in when assistance is required. The unit is well known by Whānau in the community as a point of contact for maternity care as more generations come through.
The unit provides numerous amounts of services including contraception, pregnancy tests, assistance finding a midwife, drop-in service for pregnancy, and postnatal care. It is also a collection point for scripts and tests as well as early termination of pregnancy service, acute pregnancy assessments, coordination of a high-risk antenatal clinic, and ultrasound service. They provide a diabetes-in-pregnancy service, breastfeeding support, birthing facilities, and postnatal care.
Kaitaia has eight Lead Maternity Care (LMC) Midwives who work in the community to provide continuity of care for women from booking until six weeks following the birth of their baby. These midwives provide on-call service to whānau and are often required to drive long distances to ensure all whānau, irrespective of where they live, receive equitable care.
This is possible because of the passion and desire these midwives have to work with whānau and support them through their childbirth experience
“Where possible, we offer support to our community midwife colleagues by offering to complete tasks that can avoid unnecessary travel to Kaitaia,” says Shelley.
“As midwives working in the Far North, we do all we can to support women to give birth locally in our awesome unit, or at home, so long as they are experiencing a normal pregnancy. This avoids unjustified petrol use, reduces costs to whānau, and allows space in the higher-tech unit in Whangārei to be reserved for those women who have complications and require additional care,” adds Shelley.
The team is also committed to breastfeeding and will provide all the assistance they can to ensure the Far North pēpi get this best start in life.
“We know that breastfeeding has a much smaller footprint on the environment compared to artificial feeding,” she says.
While the team is isolated due to the location, they receive great support from the Whangārei obstetricians and paediatricians. If necessary, they have telehealth available where the specialist can view the pēpi or mama directly on a screen and communicate with staff to guide treatment until transfer is arranged if necessary.
“We are fortunate in Kaitaia to work in a community that is so warm and caring. That is sustaining in itself,” smiles Shelley.
Picture taken January 2024, From Left to Right: Sharlene Peeni (LMC Midwife), Shelley Tweedie (Clinical Midwife Manager), Manya Lynch (Locum Midwife), Betty Whangapirita (Maternity Unit Midwife), Sean Hamilton (LMC Midwife), Kahu Collier (Student Midwife), Courtney Halligan (Locum Midwife), Charlie Lilly (LMC Midwife), Jordan Williams (Maternity Unit Midwife), Tania Currie (LMC Midwife)
