Maternity workshop great success

February 16, 2011

More than 120 mothers, maternity health providers and community organisations came together yesterday (February 15, 2011) to talk about how to shape Canterbury’s maternity services.

Those attending the Canterbury District Health Board the three-hour workshop, held at the Christchurch Netball Centre, were asked a series of key questions with the aim of identifying what a successful maternity service should look like.

The main theme raised was mothers and their lead maternity carers (LMCs) need to have confidence and a culture that it’s normal for Canterbury women to birth at primary care units, rather than Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

Other points identified included having longer post-natal stays to allow mothers more time to learn to breast feed properly, getting General Practitioners to work closer with LMCs and establishing an internet data base where mothers can find information about LMCs.

Christchurch mother, Louise McLeod, says she has learned a lot from attending the workshop.

“It seems everyone has raised very similar issues and it’s good that we are addressing them together,” Mrs McLeod says.

North Canterbury mother and member of the Canterbury Home Birthing Association, Kurstie Griffin, says she wants to see women empowered to choose either to home birth, or use the primary care units over Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

“LMCs need to be educated that it’s a safe option. They should leave Christchurch Women’s for emergencies and women who needed it.”

Kaikoura Lead Maternity Carer Lisa Preston says the workshop has been really interesting.

“It’s good to see so many mothers involved because they’re the stakeholders, aren’t they,” she says.

The Canterbury District Health Board (DHB), Director of Midwifery, Women's and Children's Health Christchurch Women's Hospital, Samantha Burke says it was great to see so many mothers at the workshop.

“There are lots of things we could be doing differently tomorrow that we are not doing today. While it will be a huge challenge, there are enormous opportunities. We all have a role in making maternity services across Canterbury the best in the country.”

Out of those who attended the workshop, the Canterbury DHB will establish a working party of mothers, maternity health professionals and community providers to investigate key issues identified at today’s workshop in more depth.

From those findings a report, including an implementation plan, will be developed and presented at the Canterbury DHB meeting in May.

Caption: Baby Malakhi McLeod checks out the action over his mother Louise McLeod’s shoulder while she attends the Canterbury DHB maternity workshop at the Christchurch Netball Centre yesterday (February 16, 2011). Kaikoura Lead Maternity Carer Lisa Preston in the background. (Photo) Canterbury DHB Media Liaison Amy Milne.

ENDS

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