Midwifery team

We currently have two teams of midwives providing continuity of care through antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period. These midwives provide LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) care in partnership with you and your family. Our aim is to support natural birth and encourage women to make informed choices that provide the best outcome.

Our birthing suite has 4 birthing rooms, 3 with specially designed birthing pools. Use of the pool in labour provides excellent pain relief. Water birth is an option. All pain relief options (apart from epidural) are available. This includes portable entenox and pethidine via injection. However, we do encourage active birth and the use of alternative therapies. There is a birthing stool and swiss ball available for your use and we would encourage you to bring anything else to assist your comfort.

Each birthing room has a fridge so please feel free to use to chill hydrating drinks and food for labour. We have aromatherapy burners available, feel free to bring your oils. There is a sound system with docking system in each birthing room so bring your music of choice.

This care is provided free to all New Zealand residents and those with a 2 year work visa who wish to experience a birth at a primary birthing unit.

Women birthing at Birthcare will be given a free private room if there is one available.

About the team

Our Birthcare team consists of  experienced midwives, all of whom bring a mix of differing and complimentary skills to enhance the care we provide for you.

As a team they offer continuity of care throughout your pregnancy and birth as well as postnatally. They work in rotation through antenatal clinic, on call for labour and postnatal visits. This enables each woman to meet all members of the team throughout her pregnancy. A member of the team is available at all times for emergencies to discuss clinical issues. They have antenatal clinics run from Birthcare on Level 3. Free antenatal education is also available and can be booked at reception..

Here at Birthcare we believe that pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period are normal but special events. Every woman and each of her birth experiences are unique. We encourage women and their family/whanau to make informed choices about the birthing experiences that are right for them.

Our focus is on providing gentle birthing at Birthcare but we transfer to Auckland Hospital if there is a need. We work alongside obstetricians and other services as needed. For further information leave a message on the team answerphone, please call 374 0800 (messages are cleared weekly) or email Paular@birthcare.co.nz

Midwife Profiles

Janet AhMu

I am the mother of 6 children and I have 11 grandchildren. I worked for many years at National Womens before becoming an independent midwife. I loved the continuity this provided along with the opportunity to care for women who chose to have their babies at Birthcare. I love the Birthcare facility and the care and suppport that Birthcare provides.

Liz Harding

I worked as a midwife for over 20 years in South Africa where I attended over 65% home births. I relocated to New Zealand with my husband and our teenage children and have worked at Birthcare since 2003. I am enjoying working in Auckland and am thrilled to be part of the team. I enjoy working with women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

Cat Allan

Hi, I am the newest member of the Birthcare team. I originally trained in Otago and worked for years as an Independent midwife in sunny Nelson. My relationship brought me to Auckland where I completed post graduate midwifery study and worked at Auckland Hospital.

I understand birth to be a normal life event, a family event and not a medical event. I trust in and promote the normal, natural process of childbirth to all women I care for. It is my belief any intervention should be indicated by specific signs and signals rather than routine. It is so rewarding and special to share this amazing journey.

I like to encourage women to take an active part in their care, by offering continuity and individualized care that is flexible, creative, empowering and supportive. I beleive a holistic, health approach encourages you to look at the whole picture, and with guidance through balanced information you can have a positive pregnancy, labour and be a confindent new parent.

Mehemea e pai an ate whenua e pai hoki nga hua "If the land is well, the fruit will be good too"

Anna Ramsay

Hi, I am Anna Ramsay and I am a midwife and a Mum of three embarking on a new journey as I join the Birthcare team.
When not working, I love to read and play Wii with my kids (I am great at rock band)
I was seventeen when I had my first baby, and at the time, I had never even heard of a midwife. I was supported in labour by two wonderful woman friends and was blessed by their inherent belief in me. Two years later, pregnant with my second baby, I met my first midwife. She inspired me to be one too. But life got in the way and it was ten more years before I would qualify as a Midwife.
Once qualified, I worked at North Shore Hospital for nine months before entering independent practice, I completed the Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme and developed a style of my own, with a strong focus on informed choice and natural birth. I aim to offer women, whatever their situation, the support that will allow them to achieve their birthing goals, in a holistic manner. I enjoy developing a strong partnership with women, and am still awed at the privilege of watching new families be born. Regardless of medical conditions, complications which may arise and philosophical beliefs, all women deserve one to one, supportive midwifery care in pregnancy. My role is to provide that care, whilst also connecting with the other areas of expertise that my colleagues in the birthing world can provide when it is needed, whether that be a GP, Obstetrician, Homeopath or Lactation Consultant.

How the midwife team works

Birthcare has midwives providing continuity of care. They work in a team. Over the course of your pregnancy you will meet the midwives in your team. In each given week, one midwife is on call for births and any concerns. She will carry a designated on call phone, so you can be rest assured that one of the midwives on your team is available 24/7. As you get closer to your due date you wil be advised who is on call for the weeks ahead.

Antenatal appointments are around every 4-5 weeks until 28 - 30 weeks, 2-3 weekly until 36-38 weeks and then weekly until the birth of your baby.

Postnatally you will be seen around 7-9 times in the 5-6 weeks after birth.

Blood tests are ordered at the booking visit if not already done prior. Further routine blood tests are around 28 weeks and 36 weeks.

Scans are usually around 12-14 weeks and again at 18-20 weeks. Some radiology groups may charge a fee for scans.

The appointment times, blood tests and scans are a guide only and more may be necessary depending on each individual situation.

Booking with Birthcare Midwives is with the intention to birth at our facility. However, if problems arise either in pregnancy or labour, consultation and transfer, if required is easily arranged and we continue your care in conjunction with specialists and midwives at Auckland City Hospital. Birthcare has a range of analgesia options including gas and pethidine. Primary facilities have no provision for epidural anaesthesia.

Our antenatal clinics are held on Level 3. Take the large lift up to Level 3 as the small lift only goes as far as Level 2.

Facility tours

We recommend that you come on one of our tours. No appointment necesary. Meet in the lounge on Level 2. Please note that we do not have tours on public holidays.

Thursday 2.30pm
Saturday 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.00pm

View our Birthcare Information DVD which you can also watch on the DVD channel of the TV while you are staying at Birthcare.

We have Health Information Brochures on our Website for you to read