Having your baby at Hutt HospitalAround 1850 babies are born at Hutt Hospital every year. Lead Maternity Carers use our facility for hospital births and we have a hospital-based team made up of obstetricians, doctors, midwives and nurses.
Our services include a Birthing Suite, Maternity Ward, Maternity Assessment Unit, Hutt Valley DHB Primary and Community Midwives. The Special Care Baby Unit is on the same floor as the Birthing Suite.
You do not need to “book in”
When you have registered with your LMC they will provide the paperwork the hospital needs to book you in.
Our hospital midwives work in 8 hour shifts, so you will be looked after by more than one person, if you have hospital staff involved in your care.
The Birthing Suite
The Birthing Suite is on the second floor of the Heretaunga building, if driving.
We recommend using main High Street entrance (Gate 2) or Pilmuir Street (Gate 5). Use the following entrances:
- Heretaunga Block entrance: Weekdays 6.00am-6.30pm / Weekends 8.00am–4.30pm
- Emergency Department (ED) entrance which is open 24 hours a day (best entrance weekends and after hours)
Call your LMC midwife or doctor first
If you think labour is starting, your waters break or you have concerns about your baby, call your LMC midwife or doctor – they will discuss with you if you need to come to hospital.
If you are under the care of the hospital community midwifery team or need to contact the Birthing Suite urgently call 04 569 7535 or 0800 488 628 (option Birthing Suite).
Who can be there?
Anyone you choose can be in the Birthing Suite during labour and birth. Family and friends should stay in your room or our whanau room and respect the privacy of other people in the unit. Children must be supervised at all times, and are not permitted to stay overnight.
The Maternity Ward
The maternity ward is on level 2 of the Heretaunga building and includes single and double rooms, with shared bathrooms. We do not have a ‘nursery’: your baby stays with you to help breastfeeding and let you get to know each other.
As you make decisions about your support people/visitors consider; who are the best people to provide you with support, how you would like them to provide this support, and whether you would like other visitors.There is an expectation that the support person will assist with cares e.g.; changing baby’s nappy, settling baby to sleep after feeding, carrying the baby when unsettled, assisting the mother to feed the baby, providing the mother with drinks and food and general assistance.
If a support person is staying once you reach the maternity ward they need to be aware the majority of rooms on the post natal unit do not have a lot of space and are only semi private. There are no sleeping / shower facilities and they will be provided with a chair at your bedside. There are toilet facilities out by the elevators.
Children are not permitted to stay overnight.
Your hospital stay will be short and it is a time for you to start recovering from your labour and birth as well as learn how to feed and care for your baby. It is important that you have rest and protect your new baby from coming in contact with others who might be ill.
General Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are from 8.00 am and 8.00pm. (The hospital is closed for all visitors between 12:30pm and 2:30pm to allow patients time to rest).
One support person may stay overnight to assist with care, although this is dependent upon:
- If the mother is in a single room
- The ward’s ability to operate safely and effectively
- The person’s ability to abide by acceptable behaviour guidelines
There may be many interruptions during the night when staff attend to mum and baby.
Please be considerate of other people in the ward, wear day clothes around the unit, keep the room neat and tidy and free from clutter. This helps us to clean the room each day and allow staff easy access in an emergency.
Meals are not supplied for partners of support people. Tea and Coffee is available.
Everyone needs to be mindful and sensitive to the needs of other people and families by keeping noise and disturbances to a minimum. Disruptive behaviour or unsafe practices are not accepted and people who are acting this way will be asked to leave.
