Irish Maternity Hospitals Restricting Mothers Choice for Birth Support

national | consumer issues | news report

Friday July 22, 2005 16:50

by Tracy Donegan - Doula Ireland

tracy_niall at yahoo dot com

Doula care shown to reduce caesarean rates

Mothers in Ireland continue to have their choices in childbirth challenged by the Irish maternity system. Doula services which are now available in Ireland and gaining popularity are being prevented from entering many hospitals.

Although birth assistants or doulas have been around longer than obstetricians, the term and role is not very well known in Ireland. Birth assistants are making resurgence in maternity care throughout the world. They are the newest member of the birth team. Birth assistants bring essential added support not only to the mother, but also to the doctor or midwife, the hospital staff, and, especially, the father, during the birth experience. Birth assistants are not a replacement for the special support that dads provide.

Today medical interventions and cesareans are at an all time high. Ireland’s cesarean section rate continues to climb. With these developments more and more women are educating themselves on ways to reduce the risks of intervention and cesareans such as hiring a doula.

There have been more than 15 randomized worldwide studies over 20 years on the effects of doulas on labour. The results are surprising to many;

* 50% reduction of cesarean rate

* 25% shorter labour

* 60% reduction in epidural requests

* 30% reduction in analgesia use

* 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Many Irish hospitals refuse to acknowledge the positive benefits that doulas bring and insist their staff provides sufficient care. But in a 2002 JAMA study of 7000 women (Hodnett) found that continuous support by hospital employees had no effect on reducing the caesarean rates. The benefit was greatest when the caregiver was not a hospital employee.

Ireland continues to see climbing caesarean rates and doulas are SHOWN to reduce caesarean rates – plus it doesn’t cost the hospital ANYTHING because doulas are privately hired by the mothers. If the effects of doula care was available in pill form it would be unethical NOT to use it.

Irish hospitals are already stretched to capacity…and the birth rate in Ireland is continuing to rise and maternity units continue to close.

Doula Ireland has recently been featured in the Irish Daily Star, The Irish Times, Irish Parents magazine. Doulas will also be featured in an upcoming Sunday Tribune.