The midwife shortage appears to be reaching crisis point, with Hutt Hospital's maternity service going into 'code red' on the weekend due to a lack of staff.
It comes as the Wellington region risks losing its only non-hospital birthing clinic and expecting mums struggle to find a midwife.
Fraser and Sarah Skerman have been trying to find a midwife for months. Sarah's 20 weeks pregnant with their first child.
"My family aren't here and we've had no support, really - it's been really hard," she explained.
It's support expecting mums usually get from a midwife. On Monday, they finally booked in with the Hutt DHB's maternity service - but it's a last resort.
"You don't see the same midwife every time, you could get somebody completely different," Sarah said.
There's a nationwide shortage of midwives, and Hutt Hospital's maternity ward went into 'code red' early on Saturday morning. For a period, there was only one midwife on the ward.
"This isn't a one-off - these are happening far too regularly and it's really worrying," said Caroline Conroy of the Midwifery Union.
"I would describe the situation as crisis point in the Hutt Valley - incredibly disappointing," said National MP Chris Bishop.
A midwife who works at Hutt Hospital told Newshub it's so understaffed and stressful, she's quit due to fears there will be a medical mishap.
The DHB didn't respond to that, but admits it needs 15 more full-time midwives.
It comes as Wellington region's only non-hospital birthing clinic faces closure because it can't secure DHB funding.
"They've told us there is no possibility of a contract with them. What we believe is the funding should come directly from the Ministry of Health," said Birthing Centre founder and director Chloe Wright.
Bishop says if it closes, it's going to put "more pressure on Hutt Hospital and more pressure on an already stressed system".
A petition has been launched to save the clinic, while Hutt MP Ginny Andersen has organised a public meeting to address the problem.
