Helensville Birthing Centre is proud to have a growing team of experienced and dedicated Lead Maternity Carers (LMC).
We recently spoke to Louise Clunie, a Helensville local for more than 20 years, mum to four (all born at our Centre), and an independent midwife in our local area.
Kia ora, Louise! How did you first connect with Helensville Birthing Centre (HBC)?
I had all four of my children there and had the same amazing midwife for each birth. After the birth of my third baby, I realised midwifery was what I wanted to do. Each time, I was so cared for at the Birthing Centre, my midwife was awesome, and it was such a good experience.
Initially I worked at the Centre as a Healthcare Assistant for about nine years – waiting for my children to be older so I could go and study to become a midwife.
What was it like working as a Healthcare Assistant?
I knew HBC was where I wanted to be – so being a Healthcare Assistant was a good way to get my foot in the door. I had the support of all the midwives, the manager and the whole Birthing Centre – and that support was what helped me get through my degree – especially through Covid.
I did my placements with local midwives – some of it at the Birthing Centre and others in hospital.
So now you’re a proud local LMC.
Yes, I’m an LMC in the community. The beautiful thing is I’m starting to look after friends of my children – the generation I’ve seen grow up. I do some shifts at the Birthing Centre if I’m not too busy or if they need me. I also have a shared clinic just off the Birthing Centre. I’m part of the Kumeu and Helensville Midwives group.
I cover Kumeu to Makarau and South Head – if it’s someone I know, I might travel further.
What was it about the care you received at the Birthing Centre – during and after the birth of your four children – that inspired you to become a midwife?
I felt comfortable and safe. I was so well cared for – it was a completely positive experience. Michelle, who is now the manager and a midwife, was a registered nurse when I had my first baby. I remember her sitting with me one night, when things were a little bit tricky – the care was really personal. I loved that it was such a calm and caring environment. There was no judgement.
And I wanted to be part of that. HBC almost feels like my second home – which is funny to say about a workplace, but it is!
What were you doing before you became a midwife?
I was raising my kids and had a few different jobs. I helped out at Parent Aid. I was dairy farming for a while and had office jobs.
I knew I wanted to do something that involved caring for people, but I wasn’t sure what. Then I learned about midwifery when I had my babies.
What does it mean to you, the role of a midwife?
The most important part is caring for women and their families. We support them to make informed decisions and help them have as positive an experience as possible with their pregnancies, birth and early postpartum.
I felt empowered to make my own informed decisions during my pregnancies because my midwife explained my options – it’s important to me that the families I care for feel the same.
A midwife is someone who helps women and families during that period of becoming parents – making sure they and their babies are safe and well. Families should have access to healthy food, warm bedding, pregnancy scans, and other resources for a safe and comfortable pregnancy and postpartum period. There is support out there – it’s about connecting people with community organisations and making sure they have everything they need to feel safe, looked after, and in control of their decisions.
And that’s the great thing about the Helensville community – the connections.
Yes, you see on Facebook you can ask for anything. For example, I had a family in need of blankets – and you ask, and people step up and help out. I’m really lucky to work in Helensville – it’s a lovely community.
You’ve been in Helensville for over 20 years now.
Yes, I moved here when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I didn’t know anyone – so I joined a coffee group through my antenatal class and went from there. It’s a fantastic community for kids.
What’s the benefit of birthing at HBC?
It’s quiet and calm – there’s no hustle and bustle. The birthing room has soft and dim lighting with fairy lights and it’s peaceful. This peace is so much better for the woman’s hormones.
You’re not on a timeline at the Birthing Centre like you are at a hospital.
At the Birthing Centre, women seem to need less intervention and women and their families can go straight from the birthing room to the postnatal room. They don’t have to do the big drive up here.
Do you have many home births?
I’d love it if they could all be at home or at the Birthing Centre. There’s not nearly as many as I’d like because I know it can be such a positive experience birthing at home or the Birthing Centre.
If people had you as their midwife before is it easy to book you again?
Absolutely. I love it when people come back to me for their next pregnancy. It’s really special.
I’m not sure if you get much spare time being a mum of four and a midwife, but what do you like to do outside work?
My kids are teenagers and in their early twenties now. My favourite thing is for all of us to go away for a weekend. Honestly, spending time with my kids and my husband is what I love most.
Sometimes I’ll catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a while. But it’s mainly being able to spend time with the family without having to rush off or have my phone on.
Helensville Birthing Centre is proud to have a growing team of experienced and dedicated Lead Maternity Carers (LMC).
We recently spoke to Louise Clunie, a Helensville local for more than 20 years, mum to four (all born at our Centre), and an independent midwife in our local area.
Kia ora, Louise! How did you first connect with Helensville Birthing Centre (HBC)?
I had all four of my children there and had the same amazing midwife for each birth. After the birth of my third baby, I realised midwifery was what I wanted to do. Each time, I was so cared for at the Birthing Centre, my midwife was awesome, and it was such a good experience.
Initially I worked at the Centre as a Healthcare Assistant for about nine years – waiting for my children to be older so I could go and study to become a midwife.
What was it like working as a Healthcare Assistant?
I knew HBC was where I wanted to be – so being a Healthcare Assistant was a good way to get my foot in the door. I had the support of all the midwives, the manager and the whole Birthing Centre – and that support was what helped me get through my degree – especially through Covid.
I did my placements with local midwives – some of it at the Birthing Centre and others in hospital.
So now you’re a proud local LMC.
Yes, I’m an LMC in the community. The beautiful thing is I’m starting to look after friends of my children – the generation I’ve seen grow up. I do some shifts at the Birthing Centre if I’m not too busy or if they need me. I also have a shared clinic just off the Birthing Centre. I’m part of the Kumeu and Helensville Midwives group.
I cover Kumeu to Makarau and South Head – if it’s someone I know, I might travel further.
What was it about the care you received at the Birthing Centre – during and after the birth of your four children – that inspired you to become a midwife?
I felt comfortable and safe. I was so well cared for – it was a completely positive experience. Michelle, who is now the manager and a midwife, was a registered nurse when I had my first baby. I remember her sitting with me one night, when things were a little bit tricky – the care was really personal. I loved that it was such a calm and caring environment. There was no judgement.
And I wanted to be part of that. HBC almost feels like my second home – which is funny to say about a workplace, but it is!
What were you doing before you became a midwife?
I was raising my kids and had a few different jobs. I helped out at Parent Aid. I was dairy farming for a while and had office jobs.
I knew I wanted to do something that involved caring for people, but I wasn’t sure what. Then I learned about midwifery when I had my babies.
What does it mean to you, the role of a midwife?
The most important part is caring for women and their families. We support them to make informed decisions and help them have as positive an experience as possible with their pregnancies, birth and early postpartum.
I felt empowered to make my own informed decisions during my pregnancies because my midwife explained my options – it’s important to me that the families I care for feel the same.
A midwife is someone who helps women and families during that period of becoming parents – making sure they and their babies are safe and well. Families should have access to healthy food, warm bedding, pregnancy scans, and other resources for a safe and comfortable pregnancy and postpartum period. There is support out there – it’s about connecting people with community organisations and making sure they have everything they need to feel safe, looked after, and in control of their decisions.
And that’s the great thing about the Helensville community – the connections.
Yes, you see on Facebook you can ask for anything. For example, I had a family in need of blankets – and you ask, and people step up and help out. I’m really lucky to work in Helensville – it’s a lovely community.
You’ve been in Helensville for over 20 years now.
Yes, I moved here when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I didn’t know anyone – so I joined a coffee group through my antenatal class and went from there. It’s a fantastic community for kids.
What’s the benefit of birthing at HBC?
It’s quiet and calm – there’s no hustle and bustle. The birthing room has soft and dim lighting with fairy lights and it’s peaceful. This peace is so much better for the woman’s hormones.
You’re not on a timeline at the Birthing Centre like you are at a hospital.
At the Birthing Centre, women seem to need less intervention and women and their families can go straight from the birthing room to the postnatal room. They don’t have to do the big drive up here.
Do you have many home births?
I’d love it if they could all be at home or at the Birthing Centre. There’s not nearly as many as I’d like because I know it can be such a positive experience birthing at home or the Birthing Centre.
If people had you as their midwife before is it easy to book you again?
Absolutely. I love it when people come back to me for their next pregnancy. It’s really special.
I’m not sure if you get much spare time being a mum of four and a midwife, but what do you like to do outside work?
My kids are teenagers and in their early twenties now. My favourite thing is for all of us to go away for a weekend. Honestly, spending time with my kids and my husband is what I love most.
Sometimes I’ll catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a while. But it’s mainly being able to spend time with the family without having to rush off or have my phone on.
