Medical services in New Zealand

“Mothercraft is such a wonderful facility and has made a huge difference to my life. Obviously everyone's experience is different and this is just ours. Reason for referral: 6.5 month old baby waking every 45 mins - 2 hours for 5 months straight. Fed to sleep, co sleeping often and contact or pram short day naps. Before going: I was anxious as anything about him being left to CIO. While there... Building: Under the Waterford Birth Centre, large private room with cot, pram and sink. Shared bathroom, shared kitchen and lounge. Nice wee play area for baby with toys. Breakfast is standard cereal and toast type set up and lunch and dinner is brought downstairs from the birth centre chefs. I really enjoyed the meals and I also took some snacks. Staff: The nurses there are fantastic. I cannot speak highly enough of them. They are all wonderful. They genuinely care about you and your baby. Techniques: Day 1-2 the nurse did most of the settling and resettling for me. Baby would have a song and a cuddle then placed in cot to learn to self settle. Yes, there was some crying but I was able to specify my maximum cry time for him and they stuck to that. The lovely nurse (Jane) listened to his crying and after 10 minutes popped him in the pram to get him to sleep. I believe the first couple of days are just about getting the baby (and Mum!) to catch up on sleep. Day 3 Jane taught me how to listen to his cry and decipher between a distressed/ pain cry and a wind down cry. From here I was able to do the put down myself and resettling. Resettling was singing, bum pats and cot rocking. The idea is to keep baby in the cot and fight the urge to pick them up. The cot rocking worked a charm. At night you also have the option for baby to go with the night nurse so you can get a full night's sleep. Since returning home... Sleep: Baby now settles himself to sleep for about 80% of sleeps within 8-15 mins, the other 20% is just bum pats and cot rocking. Baby only wakes overnight for feeding (every 4 hours for BF baby). Learnings for me: Difference between wind down and wind up cries. Some crying is OK! Don't be too quick to interfere. Letting him sleep in whatever position he wants. Feeding schedule (4 hourly + 3x solid meals and all food consumed within 1 hour each feed). Change from structured sleeping times to awake times (up for 2.5-3 hours and watch for tired signs), aiming for 2-2.5 hours of sleep each day nap. Not being too hung up on 3 naps a day, if only 2 then an early bedtime is fine. Overall a fantastic experience and has really changed our family's sleep!! You've got this māmā!”

“Such an amazing lady so easy to talk to.”

“GOOD AFTERNOON NOT TO B IN THE CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL”

“Wentto register at doctor's hopeless so went down to chemist the lovely lady sorted it for me a world of knowledge if you are in need of medicine for sickness awesome felt alot better the next day thanks so much”

“Nice and clean love shopping here”

“Just what you need. Nice people. Quick service”

“Cool calm collected people. Love it.”

“Friendly Pharmacist and open to discussions”

“Highly recommended. The lady we saw for IUD removal was knowledgeable, confident, kind, and very easy to feel safe with if you’re anxious”

“Got discharged today after being looked after by the District nurses for 5.5 months. Whilst I am so happy to finally be discharged I am also so very grateful to have been taken such good care of by all the nurses who looked after me during that time. I definitely would not have healed so well without their help. Also shout out to 2 of the security guards who go out of their way to remember patient names, it makes coming in just that little bit more pleasant.”

“Got our vaccinations done today, and Giselle was great. Very caring, informative and quick. Bonus: open on a Sunday.”

“Dr Debbie, understands and is a very good problem solver. I have received wonderful care. Highly recommended! Many thanks, Bella Richardson Relationship Manager NZLocums”

“Extra special thanks to staff on Sunday 5th January 2025, for their over and above help with a script which was going to cost $50 as all the regular doctors were on holiday. Very much appreciated.”

“I need have a monthly specialist prescription. Countdown Pharmacy have been consistently amazing for me over the last 10 years. I get a text when my medication is available to be collected, as it needs to be ordered in. They follow up with my Doctor when and if required. I can't fault them and wouldn't go anywhere else.”