The LMC you register with is required to take responsibility for all your maternity care from the time you Register up until your baby is 4 – 6 weeks old unless:

  • you decide to change to another LMC
  • you or your baby needs to be transferred for specialist care
  • Your LMC will provide all your care during your pregnancy and will refer you to specialist providers for any tests or treatments that are needed.
  • Your LMC will work with you to write a Care Plan into your Maternity Notes. This Care Plan will record all the choices you make for your care during pregnancy, labour and birth and after your baby is born. This Care Plan can be updated or changed at your request and/or as necessary at any visit with your LMC.
  • Your LMC (or a suitable back-up LMC) will be available during normal business hours for advice related to your maternity care if you need it.
  • Your LMC (or a suitable back-up LMC) will be available 24/7 for emergency care and advice if needed.
  • Your LMC is required to make every effort to be available during your labour and to attend your baby’s birth. (If your LMC cannot be available during your labour and birth s/he must make arrangements with a back-up maternity care provider who is acceptable to you.)
  • If your LMC is not a midwife, s/he must arrange for suitable midwifery care for you during active labour and ensure that the midwife/midwifery service that is providing this care has access to an up-to-date copy of your Care Plan.
  • If your LMC is not a midwife, s/he must arrange for a midwife who is acceptable to you, to visit you at home at least 5 times before your baby is 4 weeks old, to provide care for you and your baby. Your LMC must make sure that this midwife has access to an up-to-date copy of your Care Plan.
  • Your LMC is responsible for ensuring that you and your baby receive postnatal care visits while you are in hospital and when you are at home for at about 4 weeks after you’ve given birth. Your midwife can visit until 6 weeks if you have not recovered from your birth or if your baby is not thriving. Your LMC must make sure that you are given assistance with and advice about breastfeeding, recovery following labour and birth, looking after your baby, signs of postnatal depression, immunisation and contraception. S/he must also make sure that you have chosen a Family GP and someone to provide Well Child Care (e.g. Plunket, Tamariki Ora, Family GP) for your baby after your midwife finishes providing maternity care.
  • Your LMC is required to be available to give advice and support at any time during normal working hours for around 4 weeks after you have given birth and must be available 24/7 for emergency assessment and/or care.

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