Birthing centre to open doors

Expectant mothers in Tauranga and the wider Western Bay of Plenty will have another option available to them from October, when the Bethlehem Birthing Centre opens its doors.

The privately-owned birthing facility will be available for woman having natural, non-complication births and will be free for all pregnant women eligible for publicly-funded maternity services in New Zealand.


Bethlehem Birthing Centre co-founder Gabi Buechel, chief executive Nicky Campbell and co-founder Chloe Wright.

Women who give birth in Tauranga Hospital will also be able to visit the Bethlehem Birthing Centre to receive their post-natal care.

The birthing centre is a new concept in Tauranga, and has the support of Tauranga Hospital and Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

The purpose-built 12-room centre will occupy the upper level and part of the ground floor at a new building under construction on the corner of State Highway 2, opposite the Z service station.

Chief executive Nicky Campbell says Bethlehem Birthing Centre offers another choice for Tauranga women wanting to have a natural birth with the support of their lead maternity carer.

'We want to provide a safe and beautiful non-clinical setting for women having a natural birth.

'The birthing centre will be a sanctuary for new mums and their families, where mums and their babies will have the best chance to bond and achieve a positive start in life together.”

Bethlehem Birthing Centre founder Chloe Wright says the centre fulfils a vision to work in partnership with birthing mothers, their partners and families, to help create an informed, active and natural birthing experience.

'We are committed to giving our best care to all mothers and babies, and the centre will be run according to our values of commitment, respect, enthusiasm, diversity, integrity and trust.

'Every mother will be treated with respect and the birthing centre will be a place of integrity and trust to promote honest, open communication and actions.”

Co-founder Gabi Buechel says Bethlehem Birthing Centre will take a holistic approach and will be a place where mothers can learn about caring for their baby in a safe, comfortable and supportive setting.

'We want to provide valuable information and post-natal support to new mothers so that when they return home, they are prepared for their new role and can care for their baby with greater confidence.

'It's such a special and crucial time of bonding for mother and baby.”

Every mother at Bethlehem Birthing Centre will have her own room, in which she will give birth and also receive post-natal care, staying up to three nights after the birth.

Each room will include an ensuite, queen bed, a bath that can be used as a birthing pool, and flat screen TV.

Women wanting to book into Bethlehem Birthing Centre to give birth must choose a midwife who has signed an access agreement to use the facilities.

The midwife will make the necessary arrangements for the mother to have her baby at the birthing centre in the same way patients are ‘booked' in at Tauranga Hospital, says Nicky.

She says mothers and their babies can stay for up to three nights post-birth.

Partners can also be comfortably accommodated on the first night after birth.

'We aim to help make new mums feel confident and informed, so when they leave the centre they are ready to start their journey with their baby at home.

'Safety of mothers and babies will be the priority at the centre. All Bethlehem Birthing Centre staff will be trained to respond to an emergency situation, in order to stabilise the mother and baby while arrangements are made for their safe transfer to hospital.”

As a primary care facility, no specialists, obstetricians or GPs will be on-site, but women in labour and their midwives will be supported by registered health professionals, who will be on-duty at the birthing centre 24 hours, seven days a week. A registered midwife will always be on call. More staff will be available if required.

An expectant mother with a history of complications will need to talk to her midwife about whether Bethlehem Birthing Centre is the right place for her to give birth.

The centre will open its doors in October and will be offering tours for interested mothers.

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