产妇可享三天住院照护的政策变化
这项政策是新西兰政府在2026年预算案（Budget 2026）中的一项重要医疗投资，旨在让产妇和新生儿在分娩后获得更长时间、更充分的住院照护。
主要内容
新西兰卫生部长 Simeon Brown 和副卫生部长 Casey Costello 宣布：
- 政府将在未来四年投入 3,440万纽元（$34.4 million）。
- 增加产科病床（maternity beds）。
- 扩充和支持产科医护人员队伍。
- 让更多母亲在生产后可留院或在初级产科中心（Primary Maternity Unit）停留 最长三天。
为什么推出这项政策？
政府认为：
- 婴儿出生后的最初几天，对终身健康和发展至关重要。
- 许多新妈妈反映，由于病床紧张和资源不足，她们有时会被要求较早出院。
- 产妇在生产后需要时间：
- 身体恢复；
- 学习母乳喂养；
- 适应照顾新生儿；
- 与宝宝建立亲密关系（bonding）。
政府希望减少产妇因医疗系统压力而“被迫提早出院”的情况。
与新法案有关
这笔资金将支持正在国会审议的：
Three Day Postnatal Stay Amendment Bill
该法案通过后，将赋予产妇一项法定权利：
生育后可享有至少三天的产后住院照护（minimum three-day postnatal stay）。
这项法案最初由国家党议员：
Catherine Wedd
提出，并于2025年获得政府采纳。
执政联盟承诺
副卫生部长Costello表示，这项改革也是：
- 国家党（National）
- 新西兰优先党（NZ First）
联合执政协议中的承诺之一。
预期影响
政府认为该政策将：
✅ 给予母亲更多恢复时间
✅ 提高母乳喂养支持
✅ 增强新手父母照顾婴儿的信心
✅ 改善母婴健康结果
✅ 减少产后并发症和再入院情况
现实挑战
虽然政策获得不少家庭欢迎，但医疗界也关注：
- 部分地区产科病床已长期紧张；
- 助产士（Midwives）短缺问题仍未完全解决；
- 农村及偏远地区能否落实三天住院安排仍有待观察。
因此政府这次特别强调，资金不仅用于病床扩容，也用于招聘和留住产科工作人员。
Mothers and their babies will receive more support in the crucial days after birth, with increased maternity beds and more staff to support longer postnatal stays, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello say.
“The first few days of a baby’s life help shape lifelong health, development, and wellbeing. When mothers are supported early, outcomes are better for babies, parents, and the wider health system,” Mr Brown says.
“But when maternity services are under pressure, mothers can sometimes feel rushed to return home before they are ready.
“We want mothers and babies to have the time, care, and support they need after childbirth, which is why Budget 2026 invests in the additional capacity and staffing needed to safely deliver longer postnatal stays.”
Budget 2026 provides $34.4 million over four years to increase maternity bed capacity and grow and support the workforce so mothers can stay in hospital or a primary maternity unit for up to three days after giving birth.
“We know this change must be properly supported to ensure maternity services can safely deliver longer stays. That is why this funding is focused on expanding maternity capacity and infrastructure, while supporting the workforce needed to deliver longer stays safely and sustainably.”
The funding supports implementation of the Three Day Postnatal Stay Amendment Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, which, once enacted, will establish a legal entitlement for mothers to access a minimum three-day postnatal stay following childbirth.
The Government agreed to adopt the Bill, originally introduced by National MP Catherine Wedd, in September 2025. Cabinet has since agreed to progress the necessary legislative changes alongside the rollout of Budget 2026 funding to expand capacity and support the workforce needed to deliver longer stays safely and sustainably.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says the changes respond directly to what women have been telling the health system for years and reflects a key commitment in the National – New Zealand First coalition agreement.
“The days immediately after birth are intense, emotional, and physically demanding,” Ms Costello says.
“Mothers are recovering from childbirth while learning to feed, settle, and care for a baby – often with very little sleep and a lot of uncertainty.
“Mothers shouldn’t feel rushed to leave hospital before they feel ready. Having time to recover, bond with their baby, and build confidence as a parent can make all the difference.
“We are focused on giving babies the best possible start in life and providing mothers with choice over how and where they receive support after giving birth. This funding will help maternity services expand capacity and support more staff so mothers and babies can receive the care and support they need during those first critical days.”
Mr Brown says the Government is committed to ensuring every mother and her baby receives the care and support they need right from the start.
“We are focused on building the future, and there is no more important investment than giving babies the best possible start in life and supporting mothers from day one,” Mr Brown says.
