The Waikato Home Birth Association Inc (WHBA) is run by a group of volunteers who are passionate about home birth and provide information and support for birthing women and their whānau.
Some of our current committee members are listed below. Thank you to the many committee and life members who’ve come before us for their passion and dedication to supporting home birth in the Waikato!
Sarah Naidu
Committee Member
Tēnā tātau katoa
Ko Edmonds tōku ingoa whānau
No Peretania ōku tīpuna
I tipu ake au ki Tamaki Makaurau
E noho ana au ki Kirikiriroa
Ko Sarah tōku ingoa
Nō reira, tēna koutou katoa.
Kia ora, I am chairperson of the Waikato Home Birth Association.
In September 2016 I birthed my first child at home, with no idea that in-the-moment decision based on the support, knowledge and inexplicable trust in my midwives, would influence me so passionately.
As my ‘new mum’ journey began and I grew my village, I found I knew others who’d done the same. I was soon introduced to the WHBA and people who went on to become such a valued support as I navigated the rollercoaster ride that is first time parenting.
Since then my knowledge and passion about home birth has grown significantly. I joined the WHBA committee in 2018.
I birthed my second child in November 2019, and had confidently planed to home birth from the get go. Lucky I did because she arrived earth-side so quick she bet our midwife!
I enjoy sharing my passion and experience of home birth with others and it’s a privilege to support other parents to make informed pregnancy and birthing choices that feel right for them – whether that’s at home or elsewhere.
Bobbie-Jane Cooke
Committee Member
Ko Oteauheke te maunga
Ko Awaiti te awa
Ko Tākitimu te waka
Ko Ōnuku te marae
Ko Ngāti Irakehu, ko Ngāi Tārewa ngā hapū
Ko Ngāi Tahu te iwi
Ko Bobbie-Jane tōku ingoa.
I have been apart of the WHBA committee since 2018 and am currently a committee member. I am also co-chair for Home Birth Aotearoa Trust and have been involved with this group since 2020. As a consumer representative I am apart of the Te Whatu Ora Maternity Quality & Safety Programme, the national New Zealand College of Midwives governance board, a few Te Whatu Ora working groups and have also just become a midwifery standards reviewer. Along with these roles I am on my reo journey at Te Wananga o Aotearoa and most importantly, a very busy māmā to my four tamariki – Lily-James, Atawhai, Raukawa and Tāwera.
I came into the home birth space after suffering birth trauma that heavily impacted my life. I went on to have three incredible, empowering and healing home births (HBACs) and I constantly speak on the impact of birth. I have a big passion for the rights of minorities, home birth and supporting birthing whānau in the community, especially tangata whenua. I am excited to explore these passions even more when I am finished having my own babies but until then I am so grateful to be fulfilling my passions through some pretty cool organisations like WHBA. If you’d ever like to contact me personally, my email is bobbiejane.homebirth@gmail.com
Lily Stephens
Administrator – Secretary- Committee Member
Kia ora,
I’m Lily, a mother of two children, doula and birth photographer. I met both my children by Caesarean section, and while I haven’t experienced a phyisological birth of my own, I regularly support and facilitate access to home birth for my clients. I do this with education, equipment, resources, and alongside out incredible LMC workforce.
I believe that home birth is a safe and fulfilling option for many, and my passion is connecting whaanau with the tools and people to make it equitable and available.
I have witnessed, documented and supported at many home births, from first time parents to VBACs and everything in between.
Alina Komnatnaya
Home Birth Whānau Mornings Facilitator – Cloth Nappy Pack Coordinator – Committee Member
Ko Te Aroha te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau
Ko Waikato te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara
Nō Rūhia ahau
E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Taupiri e noho nei au
Kia ora, I’ve been involved with the Waikato Home Birth Association since 2018 and I joined the Committee in 2022. I coordinate and run Home Birth Whānau Mornings and have recently taken over the cloth nappy packs – if you decide to pick them up, you are likely to be in touch with me!
I birthed my babies in three different countries, but always at home: Alfred in Kazakhstan, Adelina in the Netherlands, and Radomir here in Waikato after we decided to make Aotearoa home in 2013.
I know firsthand how different childbirth policies and choices can be in different places and this makes me deeply appreciate the midwifery care and homebirth options we have access to in New Zealand – and I hope with all my heart it will stay such.
I find homebirth very empowering but also believe there is no one right way to birth – it all should work for you and around you!
I love sharing my homebirth stories and supporting new mamas – personally, through our Association and via my (very) small business Koru Movement where I help women with movement in pregnancy and labour, pelvic health issues and chronic pain.
Looking forward to meeting you at one of our mornings in 2023!