Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Maori and Pasifika women waiting too long to seek maternity care.

This is an interesting article on Radio New Zealand News regarding Maori and Pasifika women leaving it later in their pregnancies to seek out a midwife or Lead Maternity Carer.  
At Otaika Road Midwives we encourage all women to arrange a meeting with a midwife as soon as they know they are pregnant because we can gather as much information as possible on the pregnancy, previous pregnancies and any medical and surgical care they may have had. The midwife can then create a plan of care involving the woman to specifically address their needs from the information gathered at the first meeting. It is also a good time to discuss pregnancy blood tests, ultrasound scans and offer maternal screening screening.
"Parliament's health select committee has found pregnant Maori and Pasifika women are waiting too long before they seek maternity care.
It has released a range of recommendations to the Government to improve the well-being of Maori children.
The report says more Maori and Pasifika women register with a Lead Maternity Carer in the second trimester of pregnancy, or after at least 12 weeks' gestation.
The health committee is pushing for the Government to take measures to ensure most pregnant women receive a maternal assessment by 10 weeks.
It order to target Maori, it supports boosting the number of lead maternity carers in vulnerable populations and making them more accessible.
It also suggests making maternity services more culturally relevant, and developing multimedia education material for Maori stressing the importance of early access to maternity care."

Please call Marie or Maureen on 027 472 0077 or 0800 the midwife if you would like any advice.

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