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The government will spend an extra $103.5 million on maternity services over the next four years, Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced.
He says the government has recognised the need for new mothers to have the option of a longer stay in hospital if they need extra support, and $38.5 million of the total will be spent on that.
Its part of a $100 million funding package over four years that will also provide more funding for Plunketline and extra GP visits for at risk pregnant women.
"We have heard from too many new mothers who have felt pressured into going home before they are ready, and those who could benefit from extra support," Ryall says.
"About 13% of women said that they felt that they didn't' have long enough in the maternity unit so this is about providing those women with the choice of being able to stay longer."
First time mum Michelle von Keisenberg is one of those happy with the new rules.
She has just given birth to baby Mila and is grateful for the three days she's had in hospital.
"I know that there's a whole lot of staff just down the corridor
that whatever I need a hand with they're right there to help me,"
says Michelle.
Most mothers only spend a day or two in hospital and back in 2007,
there was an outcry when Wellington mothers were offered grocery
vouchers if they left hospital within six hours of giving
birth.
Wellington hospital says with more money, it will be able to get an extra five beds and five midwives.
The funding means new mothers will be able to spend another one or two days in care.
Ryall says longer stays for new mothers will help them establish breast feeding and gain confidence in caring for their babies before going home.
Additional visits to doctors and lead maternity carers for at risk mothers during pregnancy will help encourage better integration with primary health care services and increase support for pregnant women, he says.
The additional visits will cost $9.9 million over four years.
Ryall says GPs who want to retrain or refresh their obstetric skills will have access to funded training courses at a cost of $1.1 million over four years.
The aim is to increase the number of GP lead maternity carers.
There is $40 million over four years for maternity services to match the higher birthrate.
Latest statistics show the yearly birth rate is up 10,000 on seven years ago.
But there are those who criticise the increasing funding. Those on the front line say it's easier said than done.
"It's always been the issue when we've been short staffed it's never ever been a financial issue, it's because the resource hasn't been available in terms of human resource," says Delwyn Hunter, Women's Health at Capital and Coast Health.
But new mum Michelle just hopes more money will mean more people get the same introduction to motherhood she's had.
