Submission on Pae ora (Healthy Futures) 3 Day Post Natal Stay

Perinatal mental distress can affect women and birthing parents significantly with Māori, Pacific and women of Asian descent being disproportionately affected. The MHF supports this Amendment Bill as it will provide new mothers and birthing parents an opportunity to rest and recover after having a baby which will support positive mental health outcomes for new parents and their wider whānau. The MHF recommends that the infrastructure to support this law change be applied and that workforce pressures in the maternity sector are addressed to ensure this law change can be implemented. The MHF also recommends that this Bill includes options for the same level of care to be provided for women and birthing parents after late pregnancy loss and still birth.