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Background

In 2009, the Government agreed to the development of the Maternity Quality Initiative, which included the establishment of a Maternity Quality and Safety Programme.

During the programme’s planning it was agreed by the multidisciplinary expert working group developing the New Zealand Maternity Standards that there was a need to have nationally consistent clinical guidance for the maternity sector.

This was also in response to recommendations from the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Minister of Health.

This guidance would enable and encourage consistency of clinical maternity practice for particular topics identified as areas of variability within the sector.

The Ministry of Health and a working group reviewed existing DHB guidelines, selected international guidelines and recent international literature on the use of clinical guidelines.

The working group included representatives from the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM); Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP); Royal Australasian College of Physicians – Paediatric and Child Health Division; Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) – New Zealand Committee; the Society of Anaesthetists and a consumer representative.

Three clinical areas were identified as the first priority for this work: 

  • observation of the mother and baby in the immediate postnatal period
  • management of postpartum haemorrhage
  • management of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy

 The following national consensus guidance has been completed.

  • Observation of Mother and Baby in the Immediate Postnatal Period: Consensus Statements Guiding Practice
  • National Consensus Guideline for Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage
  • Consensus Guidance on the Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage
  • Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Gestational Diabetes in New Zealand
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension and Pre-eclampsia in Pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand – published by Health NZ

The guidance is available here:

National maternity clinical guidance

The service specifications for districts providing maternity services require the service to adopt any applicable national clinical guidelines that are endorsed by the professional colleges.