The concept has been in gestation for six years and this week the doors were opened and Bay Babies was born.
Twelve Hawke's Bay natural health practitioners have come together under one roof in Havelock North to create a "one-stop shop" of post and antenatal support services.
Bay Babies focuses on assisting
pregnant women and mothers of all ages with services such as parenting advice, birth coaching and lactation consultancy.
However, the centre's natural health therapies such as homeopathy and massage are also available for the general public.
About 50 people gathered at Bay Babies for the blessing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, where directors Diane Reefman and Bronwyn Gardner expressed their excitement at seeing their "long held dream" become a reality.
"We've had this vision for six years, but it hasn't come into fruition until this year," Mrs Gardner said.
She explained the collective represented a group of practitioners with a "passion for antenatal and postnatal health and family wellbeing" and by joining forces they would create a stronger support system for mothers and their families.
Ms Reefman hoped by informing and educating women across a range of health and wellbeing services the centre would help change the birthing culture in Hawke's Bay.
She said would-be mothers needed to know they did not have to subscribe solely to a traditional medical model.
"We're encouraging people to have autonomy and that means they engage in the process more vigourously.
"They need to make [the birth] their own ... and start asking questions how they want this to happen. And if they do meet complications within their pregnancy or birth, they [need to know they] have a range of tools to manage their way through the experience," she said.
Ms Reefman said informed choices took away some of the fear surrounding the birthing process and empowered expectant parents.
