Care Packages for Canterbury Midwives, New Mothers

Canterbury Midwives and New Mothers to Receive Emergency Packs

Emergency packs containing baby wipes and other items are on their way to Canterbury.

Canterbury / West Coast NZ College of Midwives regional co-chair, Kate Nicoll says the packs from Johnson & Johnson will be distributed by midwives to expectant and new mothers. This will be a big help at such a stressful time, particularly as unconfirmed reports come in today of around 20 women going in to labour in the region.

The packs are on top of a generous “earthquake” donation made by Johnson & Johnson at the NZCOM national conference in Rotorua on Saturday. Midwife delegates at the conference also made a collection at an evening function and within five minutes had collected another $1000 for Canterbury women in need, who have had a baby at this difficult time. Kate Nicoll says it may be hard for people to imagine what it is like for women and midwives in Canterbury at the moment.

“In normal circumstances, the safety and wellbeing of yourself as a pregnant or new mother, as well as the safety and wellbeing of your new baby is absolutely priority. Add to that, a major earthquake followed by a state of emergency and you may start to get a picture of what they are going through. Women and their families are on constant alert as the aftershocks continue. These are exceptional circumstances,” she says.

Kate Nicoll says midwives all over Canterbury have been working even harder and are under increased stress to provide care for women and their babies after two birthing units - Lincoln Maternity Hospital and Burwood Birthing Unit – were shut until further notice.

“Christchurch Women’s (Hospital) is full,” says Kate. “The mums are tired, nervous and of course constantly thinking about both their own and their baby’s safety. They can’t just relax and be new mothers as they would normally,” she says.

The packs are being sent to Christchurch as soon as possible however it is not known for sure when they will arrive. At this stage it is hoped they can be distributed on Friday.

“As so many distribution areas have been compromised (the NZCOM National Office is closed after building damage suffered on Saturday and again following aftershocks this morning), I think we will be distributing to midwives from the home of one of the College Midwifery Advisors,” she says.

In addition to the packs for new mothers, 300 midwife packs are being sent to Christchurch. Of those 250 will go to midwives to raise their spirits as they have been working so hard both in the community and in the hospitals; the other 50 packs will go to women’s refuges.

“The increase in the incidence of family violence following the earthquake is hugely worrying and we would like to help alleviate some of the pressure on the refuges by distributing 50 of the packs to them,” says Kate Nicoll.

A delivery of nappies from Huggies is also being sent to Christchurch to distribute on Friday.

ENDS