Hamilton MW recommendations from new mums
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38748
Printed Date: 24 August 2025 at 2:43pm
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Topic: Hamilton MW recommendations from new mums
Posted By: akb
Subject: Hamilton MW recommendations from new mums
Date Posted: 11 April 2011 at 12:59pm
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Hi everyone,
I am a first-time expectant mum with an EDD of 15/16 December. Can any of you lovely mums that have had recent experience with a Hamilton midwife please let me know who you would recommend? I understand that it can be quite a personal thing and that meeting a few before you decide is a good idea - its just that I have a list with 100 names on it and not sure where to start! With much thanks in anticipation. |
Replies:
Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 11 April 2011 at 1:43pm
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Firstly, congratulations!
I have used Colleen Van Der Laan (2006 & 2008) and Shelley Sjaarda (2010) - they are each others back ups. Colleen was my mw for baby 1 & 2 (though Shelley delivered number 2) and used Shelley as my mw for baby 3 (Colleen was in Europe when I was due). I  them both! They are both registered nurses and have been midwives for a long time. They are straight up, friendly and prompt to respond to you. And they've never made me feel silly for asking questions.
Anyway, I'd suggest meeting with a couple of midwives and see how you feel. I met Colleen first and felt at ease right from the start. Also check out this http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34012&KW=recommend - thread for more recommendations. All the best  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 11 April 2011 at 2:14pm
Actually I've just read in the thread I linked to that Colleen is retiring  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 12:04am
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Debbie Fawcett and her backup Sallie Turner are both brilliant. Jo Coulter, Frances Good and Karyn Woodhouse are also very popular and book up fast.
I think it is really important when picking a midwife not to just go with the first one available but to meet them and see if you click. Most midwives are happy to meet with you first and see how you get on, discuss birth philosophy, experience, caseload etc etc and then decide. You should choose a midwife who you feel will act at all times in partnership with you and respect the decisions you make. And FYI, Copy and pasted from another website: Some questions you can ask to help you choose a midwife: What birthing services does the midwife offer and how does she provide care? e.g. does she provide full continuity of care for her client? Does she provide care for women choosing home birth, hospital birth and water birth? Which hospital does she have access to? Does she work by herself, in partnership with another midwife or as part of a group practice? Are her beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth etc compatible with yours? What is her midwifery experience and background? How many women does she book a month? How many weeks does she visit after you give birth? Does she have plans to go on holiday during the months you will be needing her services? Is she a member of the New Zealand College of Midwives and does she participate in the yearly review of practice offered by this College? Good luck and congratulations  -------------  
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Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 12 April 2011 at 7:20am
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Yes, Colleen van der Laan has retired. I'm seeing Shelley Sjaarda this pregnancy and I really like her.
Learnt from the first time that the things I value in a MW is her back up system (i.e. who you will see if she is unavailable and that there is a system in place) and that she is 100% happy at the hospital if you choose/need to deliver there. I recommend seeing a few ladies and seeing who you click with. I met a couple in my first preg and I just didn't like one very popular MW. Good luck, so much choice in Hamilton. ------------- 
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Posted By: akb
Date Posted: 15 April 2011 at 10:19pm
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Thanks so much girls. I've been to see Karyn Woodhouse and Wendy Fache. Both of them seemed very nice. Finding it difficult to make a decision though as my meeting with Karyn was kind of like a first appointment (even though she knew I was looking around for a midwife), filling out lots of paperwork etc and I didn't really get to ask many questions. Wendy's was more like an interview! No paperwork, just lots of info about who she was, her training etc. And she had lots of photos on her wall of babies she had helped deliver which I liked! Hmmm, might have to make a list of pros and cons to see if that helps... ------------- Me35 DH40 2010 CPPx8 cycles-BFN Feb 11 lap surgery for Stage 3 endo Dec 11 welcomed DD July 12 started TTC #2 June 13 angel baby |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 6:58am
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First, huge congratulations! Sounds for your siggy like you've been through a bit to get here; I'm glad it's worked out for you
I think the important thing is to trust your gut. My midwife came highly recommended (and I know she was great for the friend who recommended her) but I wasn't 100%, and in the end wasn't too happy with how she handled the birth. In saying that, the birth was still a really positive experience. I also really didn't click with one of the A-list 'recommended by everyone' midwives when I met her, JessDub. It's kind of good, I guess, that everyone suits a different person best. -------------   
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Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 9:49am
| I had Karyn for both my pregnancies and found her to be really lovely and would take her on again if I ever had another baby |
Posted By: Limochick
Date Posted: 16 April 2011 at 7:19pm
One of my friends had Jo Coulter and she seemed really nice, my friend really liked her and one of my other friends had Karyn Woodhouse and is using her for a 3rd time so I guess she really likes her  CONGRATULATIONS and I wish you a happy and healthy 9months or so!!-------------  
 
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Posted By: KrazeeKaz
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 6:48pm
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I had Rebekah Tainui and her backup Kathryn Duggan were awesome, loved all the help they gave me all the way through. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 19 April 2011 at 8:48pm
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I had Therese James for DD (nov 2009) and she was wonderful. I wish I still lived in Hamilton so that I could have her again this time around! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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