Find a maternity topic

Photo of a couple sitting on a sofa smiling at each other and holding a pregnancy test stick.

Planning your pregnancy

Preparing for a healthy pregnancy and pēpi (baby) and how to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Planning your pregnancy

Having a healthy pregnancy

How to keep you and your pēpi (baby) healthy when you are pregnant. What you can do to prepare for the birth.

Having a healthy pregnancy
Photo showing close up of face of sleeping newborn baby.

Labour and birth

What happens when you go into labour and when your pēpi is born, and what choices you have along the way.

Labour and birth

Pregnancy and immunisations

When you are planning your pregnancy, make sure you are up to date with your measles, mumps and rubella, and chickenpox immunisations. When you are pregnant, we recommend you are immunised against whooping cough, flu and COVID-19. 

Pregnancy and immunisations

Lead maternity carers

A lead maternity carer is a midwife or doctor responsible for your care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. They also care for you and your pēpi (baby) until pēpi is 6 weeks old.

Health problems in pregnancy

Learn about health issues you may experience in pregnancy and how to manage any existing health conditions.

Pregnancy and newborn screening

You can choose to have tests done when you are pregnant and when your pēpi is born to check for any health conditions that may affect you or your pēpi.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for your pēpi (baby) in their first 6 months. Find out how to prepare to breastfeed, what to expect and how to overcome problems you may have.  

Breastfeeding

You and your newborn

The first weeks after the birth of your pēpi including looking after your health, problems you may experience and midwife visits to support you and your pēpi.

Miscarriage and baby loss

Find information about miscarriage, stillbirth and when a pēpi dies.

Postnatal depression

If you feel down after having your pēpi (baby) and the feeling does not go away, you may be developing postnatal depression. Ask for help — postnatal depression can be treated.

KidsHealth

For information about children's health — visit KidsHealth. They provide accurate and reliable information about the health and wellbeing of tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

KidsHealth