Ashburton Community Maternity Unit
We are baby-friendly accredited
We are a Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) accredited maternity unit, supporting mama and whānau to feed their babies.
For more information see www.babyfriendly.org.nz, you can also read our Breastfeeding Policy (400KB, PDF)
Ashburton Maternity Unit is located approximately one hour’s drive from south of Christchurch and provides primary birthing care and postnatal maternity services. In collaboration with your Lead Maternity Carer, Ashburton Maternity Unit can offer you 24 hour, safe, flexible and supportive midwifery care during, and / or after, the birth of your baby.
Pregnancy and birth are normal physiological processes for the majority of women. If you have no complications detected, the option of birthing at a primary unit should be offered and encouraged.
By choosing to birth at a primary facility, you are more likely to have a normal birth and less likely to need interventions. Most women who choose to birth at Ashburton do so, but occasionally a transfer to tertiary services at Christchurch Women's Hospital is necessary. Ashburton Maternity Unit is fully equipped for childbirth, and the midwives are regularly trained to deal with emergencies.
Primary Birthing Units provide a relaxed homelike environment enabling uninterrupted birth and adjustment to parenthood, with time to support you during breastfeeding. This may include an extended stay to establish breastfeeding if you live remotely.
If you birth at Christchurch Women's Hospital, you can be transferred to Ashburton for your postnatal care, either directly from the Birthing Suite, or from the Maternity Ward.
Maternity Quality and Safety Programme (MQSP) Annual Report 2019/20
Free pregnancy testing is available.
Your LMC midwife can refer you to a lactation consultant who may visit you on the ward or at home.
Breastfeeding pumps are available to borrow from the maternity unit and arranged in consultation with your LMC midwife.An appointment can be arranged for you to see a Dietician through a referral from your LMC or GP, if you meet the referral criteria. Your midwife will let you know if a referral is appropriate.
Newborn hearing screeners visit the Ashburton Maternity Unit once a week. If you are not in the unit at the time then an appointment will be sent to you to come in for a visit in the following weeks.
Facilities
- Three fully equipped birthing rooms
- One birthing pool
- Spa bath
- Two double bedrooms
- Three single postnatal rooms
- Lazy boys are available should you wish your support person to stay with you for one night
- Free parking
Communication
- Wi-Fi Internet access
- Mobile phones are able to be used in all of the rooms
- Women are welcome to use the ward phone line to make or receive local calls.
- TV and DVD player available in the lounge.
Catering
- All your dietary requirements are catered for.
- Sunny lounge and kitchen for tea, coffee and toast and biscuits, opening on to an enclosed courtyard garden.
- A supper of scones, muffins or cakes is available in the evenings.
- On-site café for visitors is open from 7am-7pm with full meals available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Onsite Café Pulse
| Ashburton newcomers network |
(03) 308 1395 |
| Breastfeeding support groups |
Meets Mondays 10-12, Plunket Centre, 222 Cameron St, |
| Christchurch Multiple Birth Club | 0800 489 467 |
| Parent Centre |
ashparentscentre@gmail.com |
| Ashburton Plunket | (03) 308 5272 |
| Birthright Ashburton |
Birthright works with single parent families throughout New Zealand to facilitate the growth of confidence, skills and resilience within the family unit and its individual members. 0800 457 146 |
| Community House |
(03) 308 1237 |
| Relationships Aotearoa |
ashburton@relationshipsaotearoa.org.nz |
Page last updated: 17 May 2021
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