Improving the health and wellbeing of future generations
A Primary Birthing Unit for West Auckland
Designed as a welcoming, community focused environment, the Primary Birthing Unit will support pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and postnatal care for families across West Auckland. The project includes six family centred birthing rooms, dedicated education and teaching spaces, and Auckland’s first community based Breast Milk Bank.
Located on the grounds of Waitākere Hospital, the new facility will create a more homely, less clinical birth experience for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, while remaining close to hospital services if needed.
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from conception through to their second birthday, lay the foundations for their future health and wellbeing. Through the support and generosity of our community, the new Primary Birthing Unit at Waitākere Hospital will help provide families with the very best start to life.
A better start for future generations
More than 700,000 people live in the Waitematā region, yet there is currently no community birthing facility in the area. The new Primary Birthing Unit will help address this gap by providing a space where mothers, babies and whānau can access education, support and care during one of life’s most important stages.
The project will support:
improved maternal and infant health outcomes
increased access to pregnancy and parenting education
stronger breastfeeding support
safer sleep education and whānau connection
reduced barriers to maternity care for Māori, Pacific and young families
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Human Breast Milk Bank
A key feature of the project is the establishment of Auckland’s first community based Breast Milk Bank. The Breast Milk Bank will receive donated breast milk from lactating mothers, safely pasteurise and store the milk, and distribute it to babies and families in need across the wider Auckland region.
For premature and medically fragile babies, access to donor breast milk can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of serious complications. The Breast Milk Bank will help ensure vulnerable newborns have access to the nutrition and protection they need during the earliest stages of life.
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A Community Hub for Prenatal, Birth and Postnatal Care.
The Primary Birthing Unit has been designed to support families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal journey. The facility will include spaces for antenatal education, breastfeeding support, postnatal mother and baby groups, weaving wānanga and whānau connection.
Families will have the opportunity to build relationships with their midwives before birth through consultation and education spaces integrated into the unit. The six birthing rooms are designed around the needs of whānau, with space for families to remain together overnight to encourage bonding, attachment and support.
Following birth, the centre will continue to provide ongoing support through lactation services, education programmes and opportunities for new parents to connect with other families in their community.
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Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood provide an important opportunity to support healthy outcomes for both parents and babies. The dedicated teaching and education space within the Primary Birthing Unit will provide accessible pregnancy and parenting education for families across West Auckland.
The space will host:
pregnancy and birth preparation classes
postnatal mother and baby sessions
breastfeeding education and support
weaving wānanga to create wahakura for safe sleeping
community connection opportunities for new parents and whānau
The education space is expected to support more than 1,000 people each year.
“A breast milk bank will be a game changer for babies in special care units across Auckland. For our most vulnerable newborns, especially premature and medically fragile infants, human breast milk can offer vital protection against infections and is the best way to support their growth and development.”
Dr Maneesh Deva
Consultant Paediatrician, Waitākere and North Shore Hospitals
Render of birth pool room
External render of the PBU
Render of education space
Render of interior bedroom
The site of the new Primary Birthing Unit on Waitākere Hospital campus
Render of whānau room
Together we are helping give every child the strongest possible start to life.
This transformational project is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors, partners and our wider community. Together, we are creating a healthier future for mothers, babies and whānau across Auckland.
Our valued supporters of this project so far
