Pregnancy

As health professionals who engage in maternal care in the months before and after a birth of a baby, there are opportunities to positively influence a healthy start that has ongoing benefits for a child throughout their life course.
 
Every two years, Toi Te Ora Public Health facilitates the Healthy Pregnancies Education Day where a range of expert speakers present the latest evidence and practice around supporting pregnant women to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. This education day encourages interaction with generous question sessions and time for networking. It is approved by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand for continuing education hours for midwives and lead maternity carers.
 
In 2020, the Healthy Pregnancies Education Day was focused on knowledge and strategies of mental health and wellbeing for health professionals to employ to support pregnant women in the perinatal period and afterward.  The experience of the journey of pregnancy is an emotional and often spiritual one and inextricably linked to mental health and wellbeing of a pregnant women and her whānau. The day provided updates in topics of relevance such as substance use, practitioner assessment tools and referral information about mental health services in the Lakes and Bay of Plenty rohe.