Labour of love
For Tauranga midwife Natasha Rawiri , weaving her first wahakura ( safe sleeping space ) for baby was a labour of love .
Mum Ata-Reta Wikeepa cradles her baby Te-Atarangi in the wahakura made by Midwife Natasha Rawiri ( right ).
Natasha has been a midwife for 19 years . A huge focus in her present role as a Midwife Coordinator - Safe Sleep & Smoke Cessation is educating mums and their whānau about keeping baby safe .
It is through this role that Natasha learnt to weave the wahakura .
Natasha runs the Ūkaipo programme with the Western BOP Primary Health Organisation . This programme for pregnant women who smoke is designed to support them to become smokefree . And at the same time they learn to weave their own wahakura with the support of Te Kupenga Hauora .
“ I ’ ve supported many mothers on this programme . For many mums it is a natural desire to want to keep their newborn close to them at all times . I ’ ve seen how great the wahakura is at fulfilling that need while keeping baby safe . I always wanted to have a go at weaving one myself .”
It took Natasha two full days to weave the wahakura with the “ very patient ” guidance of skilled kairaranga ( weaver ) Donna Leef from Te Kupenga Hauora .
She wove the last piece of flax for the wahakura around the same time as Tauranga mum Ata-Reta Wikeepa gave birth to her first child , baby girl Te-Atarangi , born seven weeks premature .
Due to the early arrival of baby Te-Atarangi , Mum , partner and baby spent several weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit in hospital and Natasha got to know them well . So she offered them the wahakura .
“ It ’ s traditional that you give away your first wahakura and I had just met this wonderful young couple having their first baby so it just seemed right .”
Mum Ata-Reta is thrilled with the gift . She had planned to get a wahakura for her baby , to be close to her at all times , but because her baby was born early she didn ’ t have the time to organise one .
“ She ’ s the best thing that has ever happened to me and I ’ m so excited to be her mother . It ’ s a wonderful feeling and to be able to have her sleep next to her parents and in a safe sleep space is great . She ’ s close enough to breastfeed and it means I don ’ t have to get up in the night .”
Wahakura or Pepi-Pods are a portable safe sleeping space for babies up to four to six months . They are designed to provide a safe sleeping environment for babies in a makeshift setting or away from home .
To keep your babies ( pepe ) of all ages safe during sleep always follow the P . E . P . E . message :
• PLACE baby in his or her own bed , face clear of loose bedding and NO pillows , hats , bibs and soft toys .
• ELIMINATE exposure to smoking , alcohol and drug use , and have a smokefree family , home and car .
• POSITION baby flat and on the back as their drive to breathe works best in this position .
• ENCOURAGE and support mum to breastfeed to help protect baby .
The BOPDHB holds Wahakura Wananga in the Eastern Bay and the Western Bay to encourage people to learn the art of weaving wahakura for babies . To find out more contact Raewyn Lucas on 07 579 8091 .
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