Home birth mother tells of ‘horrible’ ordeal
Laetitia Catalano described her experience as “horrible” and said it was unacceptable her case was now being used to deprive other home birth supporters of basic medical care.
Ms Catalano, a 34-year-old French national living in Ireland for 12 years, opted for a home birth for her baby girl Zoe and had blood tests and scans at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street in preparation.
When it was discovered Zoe was lying in a breech position, her midwife, Philomena Canning, contacted the hospital to say she would bring Ms Catalano in if she could not turn the baby for delivery.
Ms Canning claims she was told by the master of the hospital, Dr Declan Keane, if she did not bring Ms Catalano in straight away for a Caesarean, she need not look for help if she later required medical assistance.
As reported in this week’s Irish Medical Times, when Ms Catalano chose to continue her labour at home, Dr Keane contacted then Attorney General and now Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to see if he would use the constitutional right to life of the unborn to make the baby a ward of court and compel the mother to have a Caesarean.
Mr McDowell refused to intervene and Ms Catalano eventually had a Caesarean, but only after she and Ms Canning agreed it was necessary.
The incident happened over 18 months ago, in July 2001, but in a surprise letter to the Home Birth Association of Ireland three weeks ago, Dr Keane cited it as a reason to discontinue providing blood tests and scans to women using independent midwives to plan home births.
He said the hospital had legal advice that if it became involved in any aspect of an expectant mother’s care, it assumed liability for the outcome of her pregnancy when it had no control over the outcome if the labour or birth took place at home.
Ms Canning said yesterday she was taking legal advice about the decision.
“It completely undermines the safety of women and babies. The ability to screen women and identify those at risk so we can refer them for medical attention is essential. This effectively stops me from working,” she said.
Home Birth Association co-ordinator, Padraicin Ni Mhurchu, said she was very concerned at the move.
“It means women are further marginalised if they want a home birth, which is completely within their rights. The message is loud and clear from Holles Street that if you chose to have a home birth you have no rights to care from the hospital,” she said.
Ms Catalano said she felt her views were ignored by the hospital and she found it unacceptable to be used as an example in cutting off services to women like her.
“What annoyed me was the lack of trust in me to make the best possible choice for my child,” Ms Catalano said. “There was a lot of aggro for me when it could have been much smoother.”
