Your Lead Maternity Carer
Your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) is there to provide maternity care and support you through pregnancy, labour and the first weeks of your child’s life.
- Most LMCs are midwives, though some doctors and obstetricians may also carry out the role.
- Your LMC may provide all your maternity care, or they may share it with other health practitioners.
What a Lead Maternity Carer does
Your LMC will work with you throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth, and with you and your baby for 4–6 weeks after birth. Your LMC will involve your partner and family/whānau in your care.
Your LMC will provide maternity care which includes monitoring your health and the health of your baby, and providing you with the information you need to stay well and to care for your baby.
For more information, visit Services provided by your Lead Maternity Carer.
What if there are complications?
Your LMC will be trained to identify conditions that may require specialist consultation or care and you will be referred to an obstetrician or another appropriate specialist.
Choosing a Lead Maternity Carer
To find a LMC in your area, you can:
- visit the Find Your Midwife website (run by the New Zealand College of Midwives)
- call the Ministry of Health information line 0800 Mum2Be (0800 686 223)
- look in the Yellow Pages under Midwives, or the front of the White pages, under Health Practitioners and Health Services
- ask family, friends or other health practitioners such as GPs or nurses for information
- contact the local Midwifery Resource Centre (if one is available – check your White and Yellow Pages under Midwifery Resource Centre or Midwives)
- contact the maternity services department at your local hospital.
The HealthEd booklet Your Pregnancy has a list of questions you might like to ask before registering with a LMC.
Find out more from the Ministry
The Section 88 Primary Maternity Services Notice is the government document that sets out detailed information on the maternity services available in New Zealand. It is aimed at maternity service providers but available to anyone who wants to refer to it. Other publications aimed at maternity service providers are available from the same page.
Resources
Your Pregnancy/Tō Hapūtanga
Available on HealthEd.
Related websites
New Zealand College of Midwives
The professional organisation for New Zealand midwives.
Mothers and Midwives Association
An Auckland-based maternity group whose website includes lots of information to help you plan your maternity care.
Home Birth Aotearoa
A national organisation supporting and providing information about home births.
Maternity Services Consumer Council
Information on how maternity care is provided in New Zealand and what your options are.
Page last updated: 21 May 2013
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