Plans are in play for a meeting between the Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Birthcare, as attempts are made to bring the service to Tauranga.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications manager Diana Marriot says Birthcare approached them and they have made a meeting for March.

Primary birthing options will be discussed during the meeting.

A Facebook page was set up by Tauranga woman Rachel Werahiko, in a bid to bring the unit to the area.

Birthcare is a full maternity care unit, which includes births, post-stays, a midwifery team and antenatal and post natal classes.

The page has received many supporters since it was set up with many of them being first time mothers or mothers expecting another child.

Some of the posts include:

'This is what we need, a relaxing, natural birth focused place to welcome our children into the world.”

'After doing my clinical in Tauranga I agree that a birthing unit is definitely warranted bring it on Birthcare.”

Currently, the Tauranga Hospital's maternity unit has 21 post-natal beds, two ante-natal beds and seven birthing rooms.

Birthcare, which has centres in Parnell and Huntly, caters for normal birthing and all postnatal stays with its standard rooms fully funded by Auckland District Health Board.