Mothercraft Unit

• About the unit
• Reasons for admission
  
• What happens if I go to Mothercraft?
• What should I bring with me?
• Other information about the Mothercraft Unit

The Mothercraft Unit is a department of the Child Health Unit of Waikato Hospital. Situated in the hospital grounds, the unit has access to all hospital facilities but is separated from the hospital environment.

Mothercraft provides live-in residential help in a homelike, supportive environment for parents experiencing problems. The unit operates as a communal living situation with assistance from experienced nursing staff. A paediatrician (a doctor specialising in children's medicine), a social worker and support from mental health services for women who need assistance with post natal depression are all easily available to parents and babies.

The Mothercraft Unit is a secondary service, which means clients can't admit themselves directly to the unit. Instead, they should discuss the option with their general practitioner, paediatrician or Plunket midwife. The unit can only take clients from Midlands health area i.e. Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Taranaki & Tairawhiti.

The unit only caters for infants up to 1 year with only 1 parent/caregiver. While most of this information may be seemed to be directed at mums, anyone who is the primary caregiver can be admitted with the child. The unit is used to seeing dads and they've even had the granddad come in.

Reasons for admission

Mother:

Breast-feeding problems, parenting skills for young mothers and those adopting new infants, exhausted and/or overloaded mothers, mothers with post natal depression.

Baby:

Feeding problems, wakeful crying babies, infant colic, poor weight gains, halfway between Newborn Intensive Care Unit and home.

What happens if I go to Mothercraft?

Admission

Where possible, mother and baby will be admitted on a Monday. This gives the benefit of five full days in the unit. Mondays can be extremely busy at the unit, because of all the admissions and ensuring that all mothers and babies become comfortable quickly. Over the duration of the week, things will settle as mothers and babies become familiar with the environment and mothers will see progress with their children.

Care Plan

In the Mothercraft Unit, everybody receives individual care, aimed at meeting the particular needs of each mother and baby. Mothers will be asked to write down their goals as part of the admission process and the unit's staff will work with mothers to reach those goals and achieve a positive outcome for all. Mothers should bring their Well Child Book and any other relevant medical documents with them when they are admitted.

Friday Closure

The unit is closed over weekends, please try to arrange to leave by 12 midday on Friday. Should you require further time in the unit, we will discuss this and make arrangements for the following week if agreed.

Follow up care

Is arranged if you require it. For babies who have been in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit for a lengthy period, the neo-natal homecare nurse will visit you at home. If it's felt that follow up support is required, staff will work with mothers to arrange the most appropriate person or agency. Routine discharge letters are sent, with your permission, to Plunket, your GP or the referrer who arranged the admission.

Meals

All meals will be provided for the person admitted with the baby. You may wish to bring your own snacks. We cater for babies who are on solids and can supply fruits/veges and instant cereals.

What should I bring with me?

• snacks (if required)
• clothes for yourself and your baby
• bottles, teats etc (if required)
• disposable napkins (enough for your stay)
• bath towels for yourself and your baby
• baby wipes
• bibs
• own pillow (if desired)
• laundry powder (if you want to do your own laundry)
• easy listening music (if desired)
• extra blanket for yours and baby's bed in winter months.

Other information about the Mothercraft Unit

Care of bottles and teats

Milton sterilising tablets and containers are available and we also have a sanitising unit for those who boil their bottles.

Clothing and linen

Bring your own and your baby's clothes. We ask if each mother could bring a packet of disposable napkins, bath towels for yourself and your baby, baby wipes and bibs. This helps to keep our laundry costs down. Bring your own pillow if desired.

Medical & nursing students

Waikato Hospital is a teaching hospital. We have nursing and medical students in the unit at times. The students are with us to observe and learn what services we provide in the unit. They operate with the same levels of confidentiality and professionalism we expect from all health professionals.

Smokefree

The campus is smokefree. You will need to leave the campus to smoke. Assistance with smoking cessation is available while you are here.

Rest

Staff of the Mothercraft Unit promote rest for mother and baby, however, they are unable to provide total respite care for babies except in circumstances deemed necessary by health professionals.

Security

We aim to provide a safe, secure building. We rely on you to help us. The building is locked after dark and patrolled overnight. The building has security lights and surveillance cameras. Should we have any problems with security, we can summon assistance very rapidly.

Television, video, DVD player

All these are available. We have many informative video tapes & DVDs on parenting.

Visitors

Visiting hours are between 8am and 8pm. It is suggested that, where possible, visitors should not attend on the Monday, to allow mothers and babies to settle in.

Washing facilities

We have an automatic washer and dryer and available and an iron and ironing board for you to use. Please bring your own soap powder.