# Maternity

Last year

2022

Ireland's first mother and baby mental health unit due to be developed by late 2024

Ireland currently has no facility like this for women experiencing severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or after birth.

16.1k

Apr 10th 2022, 7:00 AM

# Pregnancy

Campaigners to raise gaps in partners' access at maternity hospitals in meeting with HSE

Linda Kelly of Better Maternity Care says limits on partners’ access during maternity care ‘cannot continue’ as Covid restrictions lift.

9.0k

Feb 27th 2022, 7:00 AM

All time

# restrictions

HSE guidelines allow for huge easing of restrictions on partners accessing maternity wards

The guidelines can be implemented from 1 November.

8.6k

Oct 21st 2021, 5:11 PM

# Maternity

Restrictions on maternity services exacerbate mental health difficulties, experts warn

The rules have been the subject of criticism by politicians and campaigners in recent weeks.

8.3k

Aug 18th 2021, 11:42 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Global warming, Afghanistan evacuations and Brentford make a long-awaited return.

8.7k

Aug 14th 2021, 9:00 AM

# Maternity

NMH able to ease maternity restrictions as 'huge amount of development' done in recent years

That’s according to Peter Boylan, former master of the National Maternity Hospital.

8.8k

Aug 13th 2021, 1:04 PM

# Maternity

HSE chief says roadmap to easing maternity hospital restrictions 'would be valuable'

There has been criticism in recent months of the different approaches taken by maternity hospitals.

16.1k

Updated Aug 12th 2021, 7:52 PM

# Clinical Trial

Experts have 'concerns' about Rotunda trial involving induction of healthy first-time mothers

The trial is focused on home induction of women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

The trial aims to assess two different methods of induction for healthy first-time mothers at 39 weeks pregnant.

Concerns have been raised about the way in which information on the trial is being presented to pregnant people.

The trial began in November 2020 and 86 women have so far taken part, Orla Dwyer reports.

57.8k

Jul 16th 2021, 12:05 AM

# your stories

'I didn't want to do this alone': Your stories about pandemic maternity restrictions

Here’s what the maternity restrictions meant for readers.

The Journal asked people to share stories about the impact of pandemic maternity restrictions.

These restrictions resulted in pregnant women going through parts of labour and certain scans alone, Orla Dwyer reports.

More than 120 people got in contact and 67 of their stories are included in today's piece.

40.2k

Jul 10th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Get in touch

Have you been impacted by pandemic maternity restrictions? We want to hear your story

We want to get a wider sense of how Covid-19 maternity restrictions have impacted people. Tell us your story.

14.1k

Updated Jul 5th 2021, 7:45 PM

# Maternity

'Nothing has changed': Continued calls for easing of maternity partner restrictions

Activists want partners to be permitted in maternity units for all stages of labour.

11.4k

Jun 4th 2021, 6:00 AM

# maternity hospitals

'I'm frustrated with the lack of progress': Donnelly says 19 maternity units are being contacted about restrictions

Restrictions remain in place in certain hospitals, with protesters gathering outside the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin yesterday.

14.1k

May 12th 2021, 4:44 PM

# holles st

Fianna Fáil senator says Donnelly needs to provide clarity on maternity restrictions as protest takes place

Senator Lisa Chambers has called for clarity from the HSE on restrictions still in place in some hospitals.

19.5k

Updated May 11th 2021, 5:55 PM

Voices

I found out I was having a miscarriage this week. My husband wasn't allowed into the hospital.

In spite of all the calls for hospitals to ease their Covid measures it was impossible to get a clear answer on whether my partner would be allowed in, our contributor writes.

27.3k

May 7th 2021, 4:58 PM

# Pregnancy

HSE says 'conditions are right' for restrictions on partners in maternity hospitals to be lifted

HSE CEO Paul Reid said today he is writing to all maternity units about partner restrictions.

26.0k

Updated May 6th 2021, 5:58 PM

# coombe

Coombe Hospital report finds consultant took vaccine home and administered it to two family members

The Coombe Board has examined the independent review into the vaccine programme at the hospital.

In January, 16 leftover Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered to family members of some Coombe staff.

Two of these doses were brought home by a consultant and delivered to family.

A review of the vaccine programme was carried out and the Board of the Coombe said it "accepts that mistakes were made".

126k

120

Apr 1st 2021, 4:40 PM

# Pregnancy

Further restrictions in maternity hospitals as some decide to reverse decision allowing partners into 20-week scan

Some hospitals adapted their visiting restrictions for difficult situations such as pregnancy loss, stillbirth and unexpected complications.

21.1k

Jan 8th 2021, 6:01 PM

# Maternity

'Another case of it's only women so who bloody cares': Hundreds complain to minister about maternity restrictions

Correspondence sent to the health minister reveals emotional pleas for the restrictions to be lifted.

41.3k

Jan 5th 2021, 12:05 AM

Voices

Opinion: If there’s a will, there’s a way: provision of maternity leave for TDs is not insurmountable

Professor Sarah Childs from the University of London and Dr Fiona Buckley of UCC say we should look to the UK changes for MPs and maternity leave and get on with necessary reform here.

18.6k

Dec 18th 2020, 7:00 AM

# Maternity services

Rally held to call for an end to Covid-19 restriction that stops women's partners attending births

The rally was held at the Coombe Maternity Hospital at 5pm.

17.2k

Dec 15th 2020, 10:05 PM

Voices

Opinion: 'I felt forgotten by NPHET and Government as I miscarried alone in hospital'

Clare Cullen describes her experience of miscarriage in a hospital without her husband, due to Covid restrictions.

18.7k

Dec 4th 2020, 7:00 AM

# Coronavirus

'We are firefighting': Consultants warn newborns may be at risk due to Covid pressure on hospitals

Many neonatal units have no isolation facilities to deal with coronavirus patients.

22.6k

Aug 12th 2020, 11:28 AM

# 21st Century workplace

Twenty women say they were not allowed return to work at end of their maternity leave last year

Complaints are on the rise amid legislative changes and growing global awareness of gender-related issues.

27.6k

Oct 27th 2019, 6:30 AM

# The joy of six

Two sets of triplets born in 24 hours in Co Down hospital

All six babies are healthy.

27.2k

Jul 23rd 2019, 10:10 PM

Voices

'In one day I might care for a very ill woman and help resuscitate a baby - and there's no respect'

Midwives didn’t pick the job for the money, but they want their skills to get the same recognition as other healthcare professionals, Maeve Gaynor writes.

19.6k

Jan 29th 2019, 9:30 PM

# boohoo

People are ripping the piss out of these Boohoo 'maternity' models

What is that!?

13.2k

Jan 23rd 2019, 1:03 PM

# last day

Simon Harris pays tribute to Rhona Mahony, who made history as first female Master of Holles Street

The Health Minister called her “a leading voices for women’s rights”.

44.2k

Dec 31st 2018, 2:23 PM

# It's a girl

New Zealand prime minister gives birth to a baby girl

Jacinda Ardern becomes just the second world leader to give birth while in office.

33.2k

Jun 21st 2018, 8:09 AM

# mud bath

'There needs to be a minimum standard on pitch facilities for an international game'

We spoke to England international Rachael Burford about some of the key issues in women’s rugby.

50.3k

Mar 22nd 2018, 3:26 PM

# malak thawley

Hospital argues that inquiry into death of pregnant woman could cause 'serious risk to patients'

The National Maternity Hospital says it is open to another review, but not of the type proposed by the minister.

17.6k

Jan 29th 2018, 5:29 PM

# the irish family

The average age for a mother to give birth in Ireland is 32.5 years old

The number of teenage mothers has fallen by 50% between 2005 and 2015.

21.3k

Nov 1st 2017, 10:53 AM

# Freedom of Information

Behaviour of staff top reason for complaints about maternity services at Portlaoise

Half of the complaints were about staff behaviour and three were about the care received.

22.2k

Sep 24th 2017, 6:05 AM

# bumping up figures

HSE to ask women working in the health sector how they balance maternity with work

Just 7% of all surgeons in Ireland are women.

15.5k

Jul 10th 2017, 1:44 PM

# Infant Deaths

HSE review of maternity complaints finds patients not treated with dignity or respect

Health Minister Simon Harris said it is ‘regretted’ that it took such a long time for families to be heard on their babies’ deaths.

11.5k

May 23rd 2017, 3:22 PM

# i need more time

Harris asks for a month to consider all options for ownership of maternity hospital

Minister Simon Harris has said that a public ownership option is possible for the hospital.

10.4k

138

May 1st 2017, 8:04 AM

# Faith

Religion and health care: What role does the Catholic Church play in Irish hospitals?

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is seeking his own removal as chair of Holles Street.

21.4k

Apr 30th 2017, 7:30 AM

# Sisters of Charity

Bishop says new maternity hospital should obey rules of Catholic Church

Health Minister Simon Harris has insisted the hospital will be independently run.

40.6k

164

Apr 23rd 2017, 2:29 PM

# big picture

Accused of being 'hapless, helpless and hopeless', Harris wants 'cool heads' on maternity hospital

Addressing doctors today, Minister Harris sought to provide assurances on the project.

16.5k

117

Apr 22nd 2017, 2:32 PM

# Maternity Hospital

Health Minister: 'I have heard people say that nuns will be running the hospital. Not true'

It was claimed that 300 people attended today’s lunchtime protest outside the Department of Health.

19.8k

165

Apr 20th 2017, 5:10 PM

# Sisters of Charity

Ex-hospital master to Simon Harris: 'Ask nuns about their plans for €300m hospital'

Dr. Peter Boylan says the minister must quiz the Sisters of Charity.

62.1k

127

Apr 20th 2017, 9:48 AM