Maternity Unit

Where you and your baby come first

At St George's we know that every Mother's requirements and wishes are unique. We provide a caring environment and we endeavour to provide choices to make your stay pleasurable and memorable.

Please contact us if the information you require is not listed on this page:
E-mail margaret.mcgowan@stgeorges.org.nz
Phone 03 355 9102

At St George’s YOU can choose

• Your own Lead Maternity Carer
• Your meals from the menu provided. We can also cater for special dietary requirements
• If you want to stay on for more rest as a paying patient, after you are clinically fit for discharge

Maternity Unit Tours

These are held on the first Tuesday of each month from 6.30 pm – 7.00 pm. To book a tour of the Maternity Unit please phone 0-3-355 9102. Meet on the Ground Floor waiting room, opposite Reception.

Visiting Hours

Please observe the following visiting
hours when planning a patient visit:

2.00 pm – 7.30 pm (these hours are strictly adhered to)
No visiting allowed outside these hours

We believe that women recovering from childbirth need time to rest while getting to know and care for their baby. As their time in Hospital is short it is important that visiting hours are adhered to. Please do not ask, as we do not like to offend.

Facilities and Services

Facilities
St George's offers a specially designed Birthing Unit that reflects the informal, peaceful atmosphere of the Maternity Unit. We offer a relaxed home-like environment to help you feel as rested as possible, when you go home with your baby. Your room is equipped with your own telephone and television. We have tastefully furnished birthing suites and a state of the art water birth facility.

Services
We have friendly, highly skilled staff to assist, advise and support you. Our midwives are available to share your antenatal care labour and birth. Our community midwife is available to provide postnatal follow up care when you go home. Our midwives will also provide support for LMC midwives using our facility.

Maternity Services and Elective Caesarean Sections

Maternity Services - Normal Deliveries and Postnatal Care

This is a free service at St George's Hospital funded by the Canterbury District Health Board. The service includes all postnatal care, until you are clinically fit for discharge. This is approximately 48 hours after delivery.

We accept transfers from other hospitals - within 12 hours - you are entitled to free maternity care until you are clinically fit for discharge.

If wish you can choose to stay on for further rest and support. Please enquire about the cost to stay longer.

Elective Caesarean Sections

This is a 'user pays service', including theatre costs and postnatal care until you are clinically ready to be discharged. This is normally 4 days after delivery. Please contact us 0-3-355 9102 regarding our prices.

While you are in Hospital

Physiotherapist

Women are visited in their rooms on Mondays and Thursdays.

Lactation Consultant

Visits on Mondays and Thursdays – a group session is held in the Family Room between 9.30 – 10.30 am. Individual consultations are available as required.

Educational Videos

Are screened daily to assist with parenting skills.

Education Sessions for Women and Parents

Antenatal Breastfeeding Classes

Experienced Lactation Consultants conduct classes each month to assist women in preparing to successfully breastfeed. You are invited to attend a class held at St George's Hospital Maternity Unit.

To register for these classes please phone 0-3-356 0900 and book for either a 10.00 am - 12.00 noon or a 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm session.

Class dates for 2010 are:

01 June 06 July 03 August 07 September 05 October 09 November 07 December

15 June 20 July 17 August 21 September 19 October 23 November 21 December

Baby / Infant CPR

Classes will be held on the 1st Monday of each month from 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm in the Maternity Training Room, 2nd Floor, The Heritage Building, St George's Hospital.

The aim of this class is to give parents and family knowledge to provide effective CPR to their baby/infant in the event of an emergency.

To book (bookings essential as numbers are limited per class) please phone:

Pauline Oxford
03-337 9944 or 021 298 8932.

Cost $15.00 per person

Midwifery Education Programmes

Midwifery Education Programmes Application Form

St George’s Maternity Unit is an approved education provider authorised by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand 2005.
The following courses will be offered to midwives who are participating in the re-certification programme as directed by the Midwifery Council Further information regarding the compulsory and elective components of the programme can be assessed from the Midwifery Council, or view on their website www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz.

For enquiries contact:

Margaret McGowan - Obstetric Manager

Phone 0-3-355 9102
Email margaret.mcgowan@stgeorges.org.nz

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Technical Skills Workshop - Compulsory Education

This course is run in conjunction with Women’s Health Division, Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

A two-day programme that covers the components outlined by Midwifery Council for the re-certification programme for registered midwives. This course can be completed as two single one-day sessions, or concurrently over a two-day period. It is required that each midwife undertakes this course once during a three-year period.

Experienced midwives will facilitate this course.

Enjoy a small group setting with opportunity for discussion, reflection and practical training.

Topics covered during the 2008 – 2011 period in accordance with requirements of Midwifery Council.

Documentation
Communication
Assessments in labour
Emergencies with a focus on primary unit or home birth setting

Dates for 2010
Next Two-day Sessions

Wednesday 04 August      Day One
Thursday 05 August           Day Two

Thursday 09 September    Day One
Friday 10 September          Day Two

Breastfeeding Workshop – Compulsory Education

A one-day programme, approved by the Midwifery Concil to update on evidence-based guidelines of breastfeeding management.

Dates

Thursday 21 October
Thursday 11 November

Cost: $50

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Adult CPR (Level 4) – Compulsory Education

Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation based on the level 4 New Zealand Resuscitation Council Guidelines.

Session time:	2 hours
Class size:	8
Instructor ratio:	1 – 4 participants
Instructor's Qualifications:	NZRC Level 6 instructor – St George’s Hospital NZRC Level 6 certified staff member
Cost: $20

Classes conducted twice monthly, please phone Maternity Unit for dates and times 0-3-355 9102.

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Breastfeeding Workshop – Elective Education

Dates

Thursday 17 June

Cost: $50 per day for LMC midwives – Booking essential

Breastfeeding Update - “New” anatomy and practice implications, breast milk composition, immunology, obesity and breastfeeding, breast cancer and breastfeeding.

Expressing Update- physiology, milk ejection reflex issues, risk factors for lactation challenges, helpful strategies, medications and breastfeeding.

Attachment, physiology, biology, birth and breastfeeding - principles of attachment, mother-baby separation, bio-behavioural regulators, oxytocin responses, skin-to-skin care and remedial mothering.

Challenges to Breastfeeding - clinical scenarios, discussion, case studies, group work.

Birth intervention and potential effects on breastfeeding - contemporary birthing practices, lactation and breastfeeding. Short term feeding interventions.

International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes and subsequent, relevant WHA resolutions - historical and contemporary look at the Code and the current global and New Zealand situation.

To register for these courses, please complete the Application Form and forward to St George’s Maternity Department.

We regret that we are unable to accept registrations from midwives wishing to bring their infants/children to courses.  There are space constraints and no creche facilities available. 

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