Maternity services — Otago and Southland

In the Otago and Southland region, which covers from Oamaru south, there are a number of options of where you can give birth and spend your postnatal stay.

On this page

Your birthing care options

Your pregnancy is unique, and we look forward to you having a positive birthing experience within our maternity care.

You can decide where you want to give birth.

  • Home
  • Birthing centres and units
  • Hospitals
  • Maternal and child hubs

Find out more about your options on our 'Choosing where to give birth' page.

Choosing where to give birth (internal link)

There are 3 levels of birthing care.

  1. Primary — Ideal for those with uncomplicated pregnancies.
  2. Secondary — Designed to adapt to any birthing complication (after 30 weeks’ gestation) that may require a shared care approach by an experienced team.
  3. Tertiary — Designed for women and pēpi who experience complications and may require complex, specialist care from an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician as well as a midwife.

Primary birthing care

Primary birthing centres and units offer a home away from home environment and are a good option for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Like home birth, women who choose a primary birthing centre or unit are more likely to have a vaginal birth and are less likely to require medical interventions.

Open all

Your care in labour and birth will be from your lead maternity carer midwife, supported by the maternity unit staff.

You are entitled to up to 48 hours of postnatal care following birth, but it may be longer if you need extra support, and will receive care from the maternity unit staff during your stay.

Sometimes you have your pēpi at a hospital and transfer to a primary birthing unit closer to home for your early postnatal care.

If you are birthing at a primary birthing unit and develop a complication during labour or after you have your baby, you will transfer to one of the hospitals for medical care. Staff are well trained to assist with complex deliveries and also provide comprehensive postnatal care.

Oamaru Hospital maternity centre

Serving the Waitaki community. It has:

  • 2 birth rooms
  • 3 postnatal rooms.

Oamaru primary birthing unit — Healthpoint (external link)

Clutha Health First maternity centre

Serving the Clutha community. It has:

  • 1 birth room
  • 3 postnatal rooms.

Maternity and midwifery — Clutha Health First (external link)

Central Otago maternity unit

Serving the Wanaka and Central Otago region. It has:

  • 1 birth room
  • 3 queen-size postnatal rooms.

Partners are encouraged to stay.

Alexandra primary birthing unit — Healthpoint (external link)

Lakes District Hospital maternity unit

Serving the Queenstown Lakes region. It has:

  • 1 birth room
  • 3 postnatal rooms.

Lakes is also undergoing refurbishment in mid-2020 to update facilities and incorporate a pool in birthing room.

Queenstown Lake primary birthing unit — Healthpoint (external link)

Gore Hospital maternity unit

Serving the Southland region. It has:

  • 1 birth room
  • 2 twin postnatal rooms.

Maternity unit — Gore Health (external link)

Winton maternity centre

Serving the Southland region. It has:

  • 2 birth rooms
  • 4 queen-size postnatal rooms.

Partners are encouraged to stay.

Winton maternity centre (external link)

Secondary and tertiary birthing care

Secondary maternity facilities are designed to adapt to any birthing complication (after 30 weeks’ gestation) that may require a shared care approach by an experienced team. Members of the team may include a midwife, an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician and nurses.

Southland Hospital is the only secondary birthing facility in Otago and Southland.

Tertiary maternity facilities are designed for women and pēpi who experience complications and may require complex, specialist care from an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician as well as a midwife.

Queen Mary maternity centre at Dunedin Hospital is the only tertiary maternity facility in Otago and Southland.

Open all

Contact and location details

You can contact the service on 03 218 1949

Southland Hospital maternity service is part of Southland Hospital located at:

Kew Road
Invercargill

About the maternity service

Southland Hospital maternity service has:

  • 14 combined antenatal and postnatal beds — all have ensuite facilities
  • 4 birthing rooms.

Women can expect to remain in hospital until both they and their pēpi are clinically well. This varies depending on each woman’s birthing experience but, for most women this will be within 48 hours.

Access to the unit after hours

For the safety of all patients in the hospital, between 8pm and 7am the only access to the maternity unit is through the front entrance of the hospital.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours are from 2pm to 8pm every day.

  • There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services.
  • Tamariki can visit if supervised by an adult.
  • One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).
  • If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including tamariki if supervised by an adult.

Parking

Free car parking is available on site and 120-minute parking spaces are located in the surrounding areas of Kew and Elles Road. Southland Hospital also has dedicated disability parking near main entrance points to the hospital buildings.

Smokefree policy

Both Southland Hospital and the surrounding grounds are smokefree. If this will be a concern for you, please discuss the possibility of nicotine replacement therapy with your lead maternity carer. 

Contact and location details

You can contact the service on 03 474 0999

Queen Mary maternity centre is located at:

2nd Floor, Clinical Services Block
Dunedin Hospital
201 Great King Street
Dunedin

About Queen Mary maternity centre

Queen Mary maternity centre is part of Dunedin Hospital. After giving birth women can choose to stay at the base hospital or transfer to a primary maternity unit close to home for post-partum recovery. It has:

  • 6 birthing rooms — 2 have access to a pool, we have a deep bath, and all rooms have a shower.
  • antenatal and postnatal rooms.

Women can expect to remain in hospital until both they and their baby are clinically well.  This varies depending on each woman's birthing experience but, for most women this will be within 48 hours.

Parking

Dunedin Hospital car parking facilities are reserved for outpatients only. Disability car parks are available on the upper concourse and by the Hospital Entrances on Great King Street and Cumberland Street.

Paid parking is available in the surrounding areas. The Dunedin City Council has more information about paid parking.

Parking — Dunedin City Council (external link)

Smokefree policy

Both Queen Mary maternity centre and all of Dunedin Hospital are smokefree. If this will be a concern for you, please discuss the possibility of nicotine replacement therapy with your lead maternity carer. 

Women who live rurally but birth at Southland or Dunedin hospitals are encouraged to transfer to their primary birthing unit when they are discharged. Generally this transfer is within 12 hours after a normal birth and 24 hours after a caesarean section but can be dependent on individual circumstances.

Hospital staff will check that a bed and staff are available to continue your care in the primary birthing unit before your transfer is confirmed. Once discharged by the Obstetric team the expectation would be to transfer back to your primary birthing unit or home, under the care of your lead maternity carer.

Both Southland Hospital and Queen Mary maternity centre have the same visiting hours and policy.

Visiting hours are from 2pm to 8pm every day.

  • There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services.
  • Tamariki can visit if supervised by an adult.
  • One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).
  • If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including tamariki if supervised by an adult.

Both Southland and Dunedin hospitals maternity have specialist antenatal clinics Monday to Friday.

A referral can also be made to a certified lactation consultant to assist with specific breastfeeding challenges.

Southland hospital has the Neonatal unit (NNU). The NNU is a Level 2 unit with 6 Level 2 cots (low-level intensive care). This Level 2 unit provides care for pēpi born prematurely from 32 weeks' gestation and above.

Dunedin Hospital has the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is a highly specialised service with:

  • 5 Level 3 cots (higher-level intensive care)
  • 11 Level 2 cots (lower-level intensive care).

The Level 3 NICU provides care for pēpi born prematurely (from 23 weeks' gestation) and for newborn pēpi to 3 months of age who need intensive care. 

Neonatal care — Otago and Southland (internal link)

Related links