Jana Scott Midwife

11/01/2026

🥵 H E A T S A F E ❗️A D V I C E 🥵

It was 31 degree in Whangārei yesterday! 😳

Keep your tamariki/children and pēpi/baby safe from the heat this summer.

🔥Your pēpi may need extra feeds for thirst in this heat.
🔥The inside of cars become dangerously hot very quickly.
🔥Putting a blanket over the car seat or pram to block out sun can trap heat inside for pēpi like a sauna.
🔥Pēpi can still get sunburnt in the shade. UV radiation causes burning and it reflects off water, sand, dust particles etc.
🔥Sunblock may not be safe for pēpi under 6 months due to sensitivity of skin. Pēpi have thin skin that can burn easier.
🔥Sunburn can cause dehydration and pain. Pēpi under 1 year may need to see a doctor if they are sunburnt.
🌊 Unattended pools are a risk for drowning. Tip the pools out if you aren't around.
🌞 Stay safe and try enjoying the sun in the earlier or later parts of the day.

Sunburn In Children | KidsHealth New Zealand's Trusted Voice On Children's Health https://share.google/Nqw6CuBU6cNQDROu2

Sun safety » Whānau Āwhina Plunket https://share.google/UAISOjkHFsfGWY3hl

Sun safety topics | Healthify https://share.google/gW4RqtGMspbFyA1DQ

Sunburn is common in New Zealand. Sunscreen, shade, hats and sunglasses can help protect tamariki (children) from the sun. If your child has sunburn, find out how to manage them and when to see a health professional.

08/01/2026

🤣

05/01/2026

Your body is designed to birth.
Relaxation helps to promote the release of endorphins, which are as powerful as op**te drugs.
Thinking about your birth environment, birth support team and your thoughts, experiences and expectations around birth are important leading up to the big day in terms of how you will manage pain and get through labour.
I like to observe animals birthing.. see how they use their instincts and stay quiet and calm and usually birth at night or in a dark or hidden place. They don't use their "thinking brain", they go with it.
Sometimes in this modern world it is important to remember our natural ways of being and to trust our instincts and our bodies.
Society and societal expectations shape negative body talk and can teach us to mis-trust our body and it's amazing abilities.
Yes, things can go wrong with birth.
Yes, there are instances when people do require medical interventions and pain relief.
That is the whole reason for having birth care professionals available.
But for the most part, women birth well and we have an over-populated planet to prove that.

05/01/2026

This year I'm going to try to post one common thing/issue for discussion each week.

I say "try" because, let's be honest ! 😅 sleep prioritises social media..

Here's one to get started that I'm seeing a bit of this week;

👶👶 CRADLE CAP👶👶

Those crusty, greasy, ugly little skin flakes that come up on baby's eyebrows, forehead and scalp by around 6 weeks.
Very tempting to pick at! (Guilty 🙋‍♀️.. only my own pēpi! 😆)

🔸️What is it?
▪️Pityriasis capitis
▪️A type of seborrhoeic (oil gland) dermatitis that affects the scalp.

🔸️What causes it?
▪️Unknown
▪️But possibly linked to over-active sebaceous (oil) glands responding to maternal androgens (hormones) and/or Malassezia (yeast) infections.

🔸️What should be done about it? ▪️Generally nothing
▪️Ensuring proper diagnosis if it looks concerning or baby seems unwell. There are other skin conditions that can occur.
But with cradle cap baby is generally well, not bothered by it and it self resolves.
A gentle baby shampoo or emollient (moisturiser such as lanolin or sorbolene) can be used to soften the flakes and careful removal of the flakes with a soft baby brush.
If it becomes significantly worse or resistant the GP may look at prescribing a topical anti-fungal or steroid ointment.

🔸️References & further info
▪️Derm Net website
▪️Plunket

Cradle cap (infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cradle-cap

Cradle cap and hair » Whānau Āwhina Plunket https://share.google/C9paLoPw6YsR3cFog

Cradle cap, Pityriasis capitis, Juvenile sebaceous dermatitis of scalp. Authoritative facts from DermNet New Zealand.

03/01/2026

Have you heard about the Carosika Collaborative?

Check out their website for more info;

https://www.carosikacollaborative.co.nz/carosika-collaborative

The Collaborative works together to achieve equity for all whānau, aiming to reduce the number of preterm births and improve outcomes for those experiencing preterm birth in Aotearoa.

Some wahine have an increased risk of pre-term birth, and this should be discussed with their midwife and/or obstetrician (for instance, if they have had a pre-term birth before).

Sometimes pre-term birth occurs spontaneously without warning.
That is any birth before 37 weeks gestation.

From the Carosika website:

Preterm birth in Aotearoa:

Preterm birth, when pēpi are born before 37 weeks, can happen to anyone. Some people have a higher chance than others due to their personal pregnancy and health history and/or their social circumstances. About 8%, or 1 in 12 of all births occur preterm in Aotearoa, affecting more than 4500 whānau each year.

Impacts of preterm birth:

Depending on how early a pēpi is born, outcomes range from being very well with no or few ongoing effects, to requiring intensive support for many weeks or months in a neonatal intensive care unit and possible longer-term impacts. Sadly, a few pēpi who are born early do not survive. The Collaborative is working to ensure that every whānau has the best chance of avoiding preterm birth, or the best outcome when preterm birth is unavoidable.

Most pēpi who survive do well after preterm birth in Aotearoa. However, preterm birth remains a leading cause of pēpi death in Aotearoa with the chance of pēpi dying after preterm birth being greatest for those few born at the limits of survival (23 weeks and 0 days to 24 weeks and 6 days).

All pēpi born preterm will require some additional care and for those born very early, this may be many months in neonatal intensive care. During this time pēpi are likely to need help with breathing and feeding and avoiding infection. Some pēpi will have complications that increase their chance of longer-term effects on their development and health and wellbeing through life.

The impact of preterm birth reaches beyond the individual born preterm with significant psychological and economic costs to whānau, community, healthcare systems and society.

Carosika Collaborative works together to achieve equity for all whānau, aiming to reduce the number of preterm births and improve outcomes for those experiencing preterm birth in Aotearoa.

31/12/2025

✨️Happy New Year✨️
I hope 2026 brings you joy & all the things in life that fill your cup
✨️

23/12/2025

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄 🎁 Meri Kirihimete!
I hope you all get to have some down time, enjoy time with whānau and eat a few treats.
For anything urgent, or if you need midwifery advice that cannot wait until your next scheduled appointment - please call. Texts are always on silent and not always seen/checked.
See you all in the New Year! I'm looking forward to meeting the 2026 pēpi/babies ❤️💚🤍

19/12/2025

Great reminders for this special time, at any time of year. Even though this time is tiring and challenging, you'll never get this time back. Enjoy snuggles and sniffs with your newborn ❤️ 🎄

19/12/2025

😲

‼PRODUCT RECALL‼
The stroller frame may contain faulty hinge joints on both sides of the frame.These hinge joints can fail during use, potentially causing the frame to collapse and posing a safety risk to children. Please do not attempt any repairs yourself.
Important Note: The capsule and seat/bassinet that form part of the travel system unit are not affected by this recall and continue to function as intended.
Please visit the link for more details ⬇

18/12/2025

Technically >500ml/and/or on-going blood loss after birth is classed as a PPH (postpartum haemorrhage) following a vaginal birth. Some women have more "risk factors" for bleeding more after birth. Some women can tolerate more blood loss than others and feel fine with minimal symptoms, and some may be more compromised. Many factors affect this such as iron levels prior to birth, body weight, hydration etc. Midwives are trained to assess and treat blood loss. In fact, it's one of the emergencies we deal with the most. Assessment, action , treatment and additional support from colleagues or emergency services when required is vital.

17/12/2025

It takes a Kāinga to raise a pēpi/tamariki/tamaiti. Think especially of the solo parents out there these holidays..long school holidays to feed/entertain and care for their tamariki while often trying to juggle work or study too and limited funds for Christmas treats and excursions.