‘Women still face limited options for childbirth’ eight years after maternity strategy launched

Aims Ireland chairwoman Krysia Lynch said: “We wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the families who were recently bereaved in our maternity services.

“We hope that they have received bereavement support from both within and without our maternity services.

“We also acknowledge the distress that hospital staff faced in these circumstances and hope that they too have received adequate support.”

Inquests are expected as is mandatory for maternal deaths under the Coroners Act.

Cork University Maternity Hospital and University Hospital Kerry have also said that external reviews will take place, as per HSE policy. Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda has not yet commented on this.

“We hope that learnings in systemic, clinical, and communication practice can be achieved as a result,” Ms Lynch said. However she urged restraint in commenting on these tragedies.

“Aims Ireland suggests that people inform themselves fully whatever option they select,” she said. 

As recent events have shown us, tragedies can arise irrespective of, and in spite of, well-researched birth choices.

“What’s important to remember is not to judge other people’s choices. Every mother does their best with the information and options available to them.”

The group supports everyone “taking the right maternity care option for them”.

However, Ms Lynch said: “Despite all the recommendations of our national maternity strategy, women in Ireland are still not presented with adequate choice in our current system.”

The strategy launched in January 2016 included options to expand homebirths and establish ‘alongside birthing centres’ near hospitals.

She described hospital births as “highly interventionist” and said data indicates “less than 2% of women achieving a fully physiological birth”.

“Those wishing to avoid prophylactic interventions and all forms of surgical birth find few alternatives available to them, as we currently have no birth centres and very limited homebirth and community midwife services,” she warned.

The three recent maternal deaths

• Stephy Scaria, who had lived in Abbeyfeale, died in CUMH on June 21 following the birth of her son, leaving behind her nine-year-old son and husband Baiju. A fundraiser he launched to cover the costs of repatriating her body to India has raise more than €82,000.

• Naomi James, from Dundalk in Louth, died after giving birth to a son on June 23, leaving behind three older children and husband Michael. He told the Irish Examiner of her generous spirit saying: “she lived every minute, she’s done a lot in her life, it was 38 years but, my goodness…”

• The family of the woman who died in Kerry has not chosen to make details public.