AIMS responds to the three recent maternal deaths in Ireland

Aims Ireland wishes 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.

Aims Ireland welcomes the external review of the three recent maternal deaths in Ireland; one in Cork University Maternity Hospital, one in Kerry University Hospital and one in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. We hope that learnings in systemic, clinical and communication practice can be achieved as a result.

We support every birthing person in taking the right maternity care option for them.

We acknowledge that despite all the recommendations of our National Maternity Strategy, now entering it’s 9th year in situ, women in Ireland are still not presented with adequate choice in our current system.

Hospital birth in Ireland remains highly interventionist with less than 2% of women achieving a fully physiological birth.

Chair of Aims Ireland Krysia Lynch stated:

“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.”

Aims Ireland suggest that people inform themselves fully whatever option they select.

As recent events have shown us, tragedies can arise irrespective of, and in spite of, well researched birth choices be they free birth or caesarean section.

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.

AIMS Ireland