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Mothercraft

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About us

Mothercraft

Mothercraft provides a five day programme of 24-hour support and education Monday-Friday for parents and their babies who may be experiencing issues such as feeding difficulties, reflux, very unsettled/irritable babies, infant colic, poor weight gain and/ or sleep issues.

We work closely alongside and in negotiation with the caregiver and family to develop a plan of care to meet individual needs.

We cater for infants from birth up to approximately 1 year of age.

Usually admission is with one primary parent/caregiver. We are flexible with visiting hours and welcome other family and whanau to be part of the education offered during your admission.

Mothercraft has qualified and very experienced nurses who work with you. The service is also supported by; paediatric medical staff, social workers, dietitians, lactation (breastfeeding) consultants, perinatal maternal mental health and home care nurses.

It is part of the Children's Health service, and the Women's and Children's Health directorate.

Location

End of Ryburn Lane, Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus
Pembroke Street, Hamilton

Contact

Phone: 07 839 8899 ext 96550

Once we have received your referral, we will triage your referral and offer you and your baby a bed as soon as possible. We will then contact you to arrange a week that is suitable for you. Admission on Monday and discharge on Friday.

Your care

Once admitted your nurse will assess your history and discuss with you what your goals for admission are to develop a plan of care with you.  Often the first 24 hours is an assessment period of what is happening for you and your baby, the nurses will negotiate with you any changes required for the plan of care.

Any medication your baby is taking will be charted and dispensed from the hospital pharmacy.  We do not prescribe or dispense medication for caregivers. 

Staying with us

You will have your own room with a single bed and a cot or basinet.  Depending on availability your baby may have their own room if you would like.  Your baby can sleep in your room overnight or if baby is wakeful and you would like a separate sleeping area for your baby this can be arranged so the nurse overnight can assist to settle your baby.

There is shared bathroom and kitchen facilities as well as lounge and dining area.  We have a small fully fenced outdoor area for you or visitors to use.

Meals

All meals will be provided for you and your baby.  Ingredients for breakfast and lunch are provided for you to help yourself to and dinners are prepared and delivered by the hospital kitchen.  You may wish to provide your own snacks which can be labelled and stored in fridge or freezer if required.  When we arrange admission we will check for any dietary restrictions or allergies and discuss options with you.

Laundry facilities

We have a washing machine and dryer for your use.

  • If you are bottle feeding please bring bottles, formula or frozen/fresh breast milk and bottle brush
  • Nappies – disposable or cloth
  • Baby wipes
  • Toiletries including baby products if using any
  • Your own pillow if you prefer
  • Breastfeeding pillow if using one
  • Any medication you or your baby take
  • Well child book

We have facilities for breastfeeding or bottle feeding which includes a separate room for expressing with hospital grade medulla breast pumps or if you prefer you may bring your own breast pump.  We can supply containers to store breast milk and have a separate fridge for storing breast milk or prepared formula.

There is a room designed to prepare bottles with individual spaces for storing formula, bottles and any feeding equipment you are using.

We can support nasogastric tube or gastrostomy feeding, we do have supplies if you require but ask that you bring your own equipment such as syringes, feeding set and feeding pump if using one.

We provide sterilising equipment such as microwave sterilisers and storage containers required for any feeding equipment.

We have all necessary baby equipment such as prams, buggy, baby bath and toys

All linen is provided including bedding for the basinet or cot, we practice in accordance with safe sleep principals for your baby.

Reasons for referral may include assistance with feeding and sleep management of babies, issues such as wakeful crying babies, very unsettled/irritable, infant colic, poor weight gain and reflux; and for the parent/caregiver issues such as exhaustion, post-natal depression and anxiety. 

Families from the Waikato DHB region can be referred by either a general practitioner (GP), Paediatrician, Plunket nurse/Well Child health nurse, Midwife, Maternal Mental Health, or a support agency involved in their care.

Mothercraft also takes clients from the Midland Health, for which a Paediatrician or DHB Mental Health referral is required.

All referrals go through the Regional Referral Centre at Waikato DHB.  The mother/caregiver’s and baby's details are required. There is a time delay of approximately 3-5 days before the referral is received in Mothercraft. The referral is then triaged.