Coronavirus: Double drama for mum who was in labour as lockdown announced Monday, 14 September 2020 / Media Josephine Franks 05:00, Aug 29 2020 Erica Patterson was in the grip of early contractions as the news came that Auckland was locking down again. The Māngere, south Auckland mum said she “couldn’t focus on anything apart from the pain” but called her midwife to see what the news meant for the birth: Would her partner still be allowed to be there? Patterson, 24, had chosen Nga Hau Birthing Centre in south Auckland because of the private and peaceful atmosphere when she visited – and also because it allows partners to stay for as long as the mother wants. Alert level 3 restrictions mean women in hospital are allowed one support person for the duration of labour and birth. READ MORE: * South Auckland's first free birthing centre a godsend for pregnant mums * First baby born at free south Auckland birthing centre * Two birthing centres to close over Christmas due to 'shameful' lack of support But Patterson’s partner Sushil Zerma was able to stay at the birthing centre for the entire three days she was there. In the end, baby Zayne rushed into the world hours before lockdown was imposed. He was born at 4am on August 12, just an hour and a half after Patterson arrived at the birthing centre. SUPPLIED Baby Zayne was born hours before Auckland went into level 3 lockdown. For the next three days, the new family of three nested in one of the big, pastel-decorated rooms at Nga Hau. It was “really hard to adjust to being a new mum”, Patterson said, and she needed the support of her partner. Those days would have been “very, very stressful” if he hadn’t been there, she said. “It would push you to breaking point, not having support.” Allowing partners to stay – if that’s what the woman wants – is central to Ngā Hau’s approach. The rooms are big enough for extended family to visit, although that can’t happen at level 3. The centre is fully funded by the Wright Family Foundation and offers women with uncomplicated pregnancies an option other than birthing at hospital or home. Chief executive Chloe Wright said while women were entitled to 48 hours’ inpatient care after birth, many felt “rushed” out of hospital and left after a matter of hours. At Nga Hau, 48 hours is standard, but if more time is needed it’s given; Patterson stayed an extra day so she could see a lactation consultant. Erica Patterson and her partner Sushil Zerma shortly before the birth of baby Zayne. Before it opened, Middlemore Hospital was one of the only options for south Auckland mothers-to-be. The closest birthing units are in Papakura, Botany Downs or Parnell. Patterson said she knew she didn’t want a hospital birth: the idea of the medicalised setting and different midwives cycling through shift changes put her off. Nga Hau operates around the philosophy of “well mother, well child”. Wright said that too often, women were looked after while they were pregnant but neglected after they had given birth. At the centre, women and their partners were supported in the first few days of parenting, she said - whether that meant teaching them how to bathe or change a nappy or supporting breastfeeding. “I want women to feel like a queen just for a few days, even if they have to go back to a really different environment.” She said some people are put off because they think the centre is private: “People can’t comprehend it's free.” The centre also offers ongoing wraparound support and has a respite apartment if a mother needs to come back for a few days’ extra support. But at the moment, the centre is operating under capacity. At the moment, the centre has about 30 women through its doors each month – if it had the funding to open all 20 rooms it could be triple that, Wright said. All the rooms at Nga Hau Birthing Centre are set up to allow partners to stay if the mother wishes. The Wright Family Foundation has spent more than $2.5 million running Nga Hau and Te Awakairangi birthing centre in Lower Hutt since they opened two years ago. But Wright said that level of funding “isn’t sustainable”. She said Counties Manukau DHB should fund the centre, saying given the popularity of the centre “the funding should follow the women”. The idea was always to hand the running of the centre to the DHB, she said. In Palmerston North, the DHB has taken over the Wright Foundation’s Te Papaioea Birthing Centre, on the understanding that the philosophies and standard of care set out by the Foundation are maintained. Wright said with DHB funding, the Foundation would be able to pour more resources into postnatal care and community programmes. “Everything I put into here is money that doesn’t go elsewhere.” A spokesperson for Counties Manukau DHB said the DHB is funded to provide services for the community which are directed by the DHB. As Nga Hau is a private entity, it does not fall under this. Strategy work for Primary Birthing in Counties Manukau is ongoing, they said. Previous Article Birthing Centre Newsletter September 2020 Next Article Palmerston North birthing centre officially opens under Midcentral District Health Board management Print