Take a stroll along Oriental Bay next Thursday and mingle with people who help bring thousands of new babies into the world each year.
The waterfront walk, to celebrate International Day of the Midwife, is to highlight the disparities in the conditions of maternity care around the world.
Wellington midwife Lynnie Galloway has worked for 19 years assisting with births in New Zealand and in the Middle East.
“I can’t get over the amount of resources and expertise here. We have so much compared to what I had been used to over there.”
Ms Galloway spent a total of 8 years in Oman where she had to deal with many more mothers than in New Zealand.
“Women there often have two or three children by the age of 20”
She has lost track of the number of babies she helped to deliver.
“Oh, I have no idea! I just don’t know.”
Seeing the need to further improve the practice in Oman, Ms Galloway returned to New Zealand to study for her M A in midwifery at Massey University.
She then returned as a senior midwife with the Oman Ministry of Health to help develop community midwifery in the country.
Ms Galloway says that they celebrated the day in Oman, but not with a walk.
“It’s too hot for a walk there.”
Instead she says the midwives would put on small dramas in the wards or visit shopping centres, using role play to raise awareness.
“Omanis have an oral culture; they love drama and are very dramatic people.”
She returned to New Zealand about a year ago and notices the considerable differences between the two countries maternity services.
In Oman midwives mostly assist obstetricians and are not allowed to attend homebirths
“They are not recognised as a profession in their own right as they are here.”
Ms Galloway says New Zealand midwives are autonomous and often have the ability to develop relationships with mothers throughout pregnancy, birthing and post natal care.
This year she will join the waterfront walk to celebrate her profession before her evening shift on Wellington hospital’s maternity ward.
On the day her colleagues will also be competing in a ‘cupcake bake off’ to see who will take the title of top midwife baker for the year.
Over 64, 000 new Kiwis popped into the world last year, so say thanks to the people who helped make it happen and meet them outside Freyberg pool at midday.