After 10 years of “mother crafting”, the Bethlehem Birthing Centre will host an open-home celebration on Sunday, November 24, from 1pm to 4pm.

The Chloe Wright Foundation opened the centre on November 14, 2019, with former Prime Minister Sir John Key doing the honours, and it was taken over by Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora on July 1, 2023.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre co-founders Nicky Campbell (left) and Chloe Wright at the official opening with former Prime Minister John Key cutting the ribbon. Photo / George Novak

“We are running the primary midwifery community service, which is run through the hospital, but it is the hospital midwife team,” clinical midwife co-ordinator and acting manager China Mortell said.

Mortell arrived after Bethlehem Birthing Centre merged with Te Whatu Ora, where the number of births has increased to between 30 and 35 a month.

“We don’t have enough lead maternity carers to care for all the pregnant women in Tauranga, so the primary midwifery care services team is caring for all the birth women in this town.”

At the open home there will be cakes, vendors and the first child born at the centre 10 years ago.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre founder Chloe Wright. Photo / Andrew Warner

Chloe Wright and Nicky Campbell opened the centre to fulfil a vision of providing a primary birthing facility in Tauranga.

Wright died in September 2023 and her husband, Wayne Wright, will attend the celebration.

“People have known that this birth centre was important to her,” Mortell said.

The centre and Te Whata Ora have agreed to extend the services contract for another five years, according to Mortell.

“This is a huge accomplishment, considering birth centres are closing nationwide due to financial restrictions.”

About 30 staff, from nurses to midwives and chefs, help run the centre and look after the new mothers and their babies, she said.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre runs three clinics, one in Bethlehem, one in Katikati and one in Te Puke, to care for the 1000 women per year who cannot find a lead maternity carer.

“Meeting that demand is really important,” Mortell said.

- SunLive