Which location should you choose to give birth at ?
The answer will vary for each women depending on their maternal condition, previous child-birth history and individual preferences. Generally however, all other factors being equal, for a normal healthy pregnancy the home environment is considered to give the best childbirth outcomes.
Many women feel more comfortable giving birth in the local Paraparaumu Maternity Unit, particularly if it is likely they will need to stay on in the unit after the birth. However apart from pethidine and nitrous oxide anaesthetic availability within the maternity unit there are no extra facilities available in the maternity unit that are not present at home.
Clinical reasons may necessitate a birth at Wellington Women's Hospital. In such an instance your LMC midwife will guide you through the interaction with the hospital and specialist obstetric, anaesthetic and paediatric personnel. Should you require an emergency caesarian section your LMC midwife will accompany and stay with you during the delivery.
Although the specialist hospital may appear a safer option for a normal birth, separation from home and family, a greater tendency for medical intervention and the unfamiliar environment of a busy hospital mean this choice has to be carefully considered. Although medical intervention is important for many situations very few such interventions come without a detrimental side-effect. The mother and support team should discuss the relative merits of these options with their midwife well in advance of their due date.
The Kapiti Coast is 50 km from the nearest major hospital, Wellington Women's, and is classed as rural area. Transport to Wellington can be expected to take at least one hour. In the unlikely event of an emergency transfer to Wellington Women's being necessary, as it can be from any rural New Zealand area, your midwife will normally arrange transfer via the Wellington Free Ambulance Service. This service is free as far north as Pekapeka. Transfer to Wellington Women's Hospital by private transport during labour, for other than emergency reasons, needs to be carefully considered due to the traffic congestion possible along State Highway 1.