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Isn't it good to be back in Level 1 again, we're particularly pleased as this makes our upcoming event, celebrating midwife autonomy in Aotearoa, so much easier to organise. We'd actually planned to hold this early in the year but clearly those plans were foiled!

Another great reason this event has become easier to organise is that we've welcomed a number of new faces onto our WHBA committee. Joining Bobbie-Jane Cooke (Secretary), Rhiannon Leach (Treasurer), Sarah Naidu (Chair) and Toni Constable, we now also have Josie Rawlinson, Rachel Thomas, Emma Giles and De Cleaver. Welcome all of you, it's fantastic to see our committee grow again!

Celebrating midwives - 30 years of autonomy

Saturday 17 October, 10am

Zenders Cafe (439 Ruakura Road)

This year Aotearoa recognises 30 years of autonomy for midwives! We’re celebrating with a morning tea and empowering key note speakers. Come and listen to midwife and birthing māmā / family perspectives about the importance and impact of midwifery care. Hot drinks, morning tea and great conversations will also be provided. This event is for anyone wanting to celebrate and acknowledge the important role of our New Zealand midwives. Unfortunately we don't have the capacity for children to attend but 'babes in arms' are welcome!

Tickets are available on our website, $10 non-members and $7.65 members.

What we've been up to...

We're loving seeing our Pēpi packs going out the door to home birthing families and the smiles they're bringing people! We've been packing more of these in anticipation of the baby boom this time of year often brings. We're also pleased to see our birth pools are being hired regularly, helping to meet the needs of local home birthing whānau. And on that, we'll soon also be hiring out a TENS machine, for those wanting to use this as a tool in labour.

Have you heard we're now an official stockist for the gorgeous children's book 'Welcome Home' (hard cover) written by Alisha Bourke! Welcome Home is designed to educate and prepare children for pregnancy, labour, birth and the first postpartum moments. We noticed this book can be difficult to source in Aotearoa so we hope this makes it easier for those looking for it. As usual, WHBA members receive a 10 per cent discount.

We still have lots of free quality second-hand cloth nappy packs available to our members. These are for those who'd like to give cloth a go but are feeling on the fence about making the change, or for those keen to add to their current stash to allow them to cloth nappy more frequently.

Welcome earthside!

Raukawa Cooke born 23 August

"I am so excited to share the news of our beautiful boy Raukawa who came earthside early hours of Sunday morning the 23rd of August", says Bobbie-Jane. "Our second healing home birth (HBAC). I am so incredibly grateful to my knowledgeable, supportive and loving birth team. Fills up my soul to go through such a raw experience surrounded by absolutely nothing but love and tenderness."

Georgia Brimblecombe born 1 August

Georgia was lovingly welcomed into the family at home by Gemma, Chris and big sister Harriet. "My second home water birth was much faster (2 hours) than my first (52 hours) but both equally as peaceful and beautiful", says Gemma. "Harriet (3.5y) was excited to be part of the birth (although mostly missed it) and found out for us - the new baby was a girl! Welcome to our family, little Georgia!"

WHBA home birth midwife directory

We provide this home birth midwife directory to assist women looking for a midwife that offers home birth. The midwives listed on our website are current members of of the Association - thank you! Your memberships are so appreciated and help us continue to support the Waikato home birthing community!

We encourage everyone to find a midwife that suits them best. Here are ten questions you may want to ask a potential midwife.

Why be a WHBA member?

We have both personal and professional membership tiers and also offer a $5 student midwife discount on personal memberships (please get in touch if you'd like this).

Membership donations allow us to promote home birth within the Waikato community and assist us to provide a range of support to families and midwives. We advocate at community and political levels for homebirth as a safe, normal option for families and for midwifery partnership in care, and we offer support and information to women and their whānau who are looking into the option of home birth.

Below are some of the benefits we offer our members and the home birthing whānau of our professional members. Visit our website to find out more, become a member, or renew your membership.

discount on our birth pool hire, birth pool liner purchase and all products in our store
free access to a library of quality books on pregnancy, birth and parenting
discount codes for local businesses who support us
a free pēpi pack available after a recent home birth
access to a free cloth nappy pack
advertising on our midwife directory (professional memberships).