What to expect from our team of specialists.

Labour and Birth at Auckland City Hospital

Women under the care of Auckland Obstetric Centre (AOC) give birth in the labour and birthing suite at National Women’s Health, located on the 9th floor of Auckland City Hospital. The suite features spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms and toilets. Most rooms offer stunning views across the city and ample space for family and visitors. Many also include relaxing hot tubs to support your comfort during labour.

In the unlikely event of complications, paediatricians, anaesthetists, and a caesarean section theatre are all nearby to provide immediate care.

Thousands of women have benefited from the warm, supportive environment at National Women’s Health. All of us at AOC believe it is a caring and safe place to welcome your baby.

If you need to be admitted to hospital during your pregnancy or require urgent assessment outside clinic hours, you will usually be seen in the Women’s Assessment Unit (WAU), also located on the 9th floor of Auckland City Hospital.

Watch a “virtual tour” of the labour and birthing suite here.

What to Expect When You Arrive in Labour

When you arrive at the hospital in labour, we will check that your baby is doing well and examine you to assess how your labour is progressing. We encourage you to stay mobile during labour and will discuss pain relief options based on your progress and how you’re coping.

To help you stay comfortable, you can use the bed, chairs, Swiss balls, La-Z-Boy recliner, or bath. Birthing stools are also available and may assist during delivery.

We will listen to your baby’s heartbeat intermittently, allowing you to remain mobile for most of your labour. Usually, vaginal examinations to check labour progress are done every three to four hours.

If an epidural is the best option for pain relief, it can be arranged quickly when needed—there’s no need to book one in advance.

In some cases, continuous monitoring of your baby’s heartbeat or closer observation of your labour progress may be necessary. If this happens, we will always discuss any concerns and options with you.

What to Bring to Your Birth

At your 35-36 week birth talk, we’ll go over what to pack for the hospital. Generally, you’ll need:

Clothes for you and your baby
Toiletries
Snacks and drinks
A camera

Some couples also bring laptops, books, or music players—just remember you’ll need to carry everything yourself.

Most importantly, make sure you have a car seat ready for your baby.

Don’t worry if you forget anything—National Women’s is well-equipped to provide what you need.

What to Expect

If labour isn’t progressing or there are concerns about your baby’s well-being, a caesarean section (C-section) may be the safest option. Decisions about delivery are always made together with you and your partner.

In most cases, a C-section can be performed using an epidural for pain relief, allowing your partner to be with you in the operating theatre. Rarely, a general anaesthetic is needed, in which case your partner cannot be present in the theatre. A skilled team of anaesthetists and support staff are always on hand to ensure the safest delivery for you and your baby.

After birth, your baby will stay with you in the operating theatre until you are moved to recovery. Your partner can help with weighing and dressing the baby. You will usually have the chance for skin-to-skin contact and to begin breastfeeding soon after birth, either in the theatre or recovery area.

For planned (elective) C-sections, you’ll typically attend a pre-admission clinic before your surgery. Here, you’ll meet an anaesthetist who will review your medical history, discuss pain relief options, and answer your questions. Some blood tests will be done to prepare in case a transfusion is needed.

On the day of surgery, you’ll be admitted a few hours before your scheduled operation.  The timing to arrive will be confirmed the day before via a phone call for the Theatre Team. While most C-sections happen on time, occasional delays can occur due to emergency cases.

Options in Labour

In the final weeks of your pregnancy, we’ll discuss your pain relief choices. At National Women’s, you can access:

Entonox (“gas and air”)
Pethidine
Hot tubs
A 24-hour epidural service

If you’re interested in using TENS, you’ll need to rent a device from a pharmacy or order one with free nationwide delivery at tenshire.co.nz during the last few weeks of pregnancy.

We encourage you to keep an open mind—sometimes an epidural is the best option, but many women find they manage well with minimal pain relief.

Your Birth Plan Discussion

Around 35 to 36 weeks, we will spend time with you as a couple to discuss your birth plan. We encourage you to think about who you would like to have with you at National Women’s during labour. For most women, this is their partner, but many also find having their mother, sister, or a close friend there boosts their confidence.

During this appointment, we’ll review your pain relief options, discuss what to bring to the hospital, and address any questions or concerns you have about labour and birth.

Labour often goes more smoothly when you feel confident, optimistic, and well supported. Our role is to help you get into the right mindset and make your birth experience as safe and rewarding as possible.