Disparities found in maternity units’ birthing practices

DRAMATIC differences in birthing procedures at maternity units around the country have been revealed by statistics from the Irish Childcare Trust.

From information released by 21 units nationwide, the trust showed how options like epidurals can vary from 11% of all births in Letterkenny to 64% of all births in the Rotunda hospital.

It found one-third of mothers attending Mount Carmel private hospital in Dublin underwent a caesarean section where they were also the most likely to begin breast-feeding in the ward.

The findings relate to 2005 and were compiled by volunteers for Cuidiú — the Irish Childcare Trust.

Its ante-natal spokeswoman Niamh Healy said the production is designed to empower expectant mothers to ask questions about their own care and why certain decision are being taken.

“It should not matter what part of the country you live in, in terms of how you give birth, but at the moment some maternity units will induce after 10 days and others after 14. Why is this the case?

“If mothers know this they can ask about the choices being made for them and ask are there other options available.

“Quite often health professionals are very open to talking to parents about the options but most people do not feel it is their place to ask,” she said.

The Cuidiú figures were the second set of statistics compiled by the organisation in the past 10 years.

In the case of Cork hospitals they are incomplete due to the amalgamation of the three maternity units into the Cork University Hospital campus earlier this year.

Cuidiú compared the rates of induction, natural births, the use of epidurals and deliveries assisted by forceps and suction.

In terms of C-sections, less than one-in-five women will give birth in this way in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin 2, while at the Mount Carmel private ward it will take place in 38% of cases.

The statistics also reveal South Tipperary General Hospital has the lowest rates of breast feeding among mothers in the hospital (30%) and after they go home (28%).

Outside of the dedicated midwifery units, unassisted natural births are highest in Letterkenny General hospital and the National Maternity Hospital at (67.7%) followed by Sligo General Hospital at 66.7%.

Labour is induced most often in University College Hospital Galway, which has twice the rate of St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny where induction is used the least.

Ms Healy said the information is available on Cuidiú’s website www.cuidiu-ict.ie. She hopes it will be used by expectant mothers, GP’s, midwives and anti-natal teachers to inform women of their care options.

“In putting this together we have been working with the hospitals and we found people working there were as interested as anybody because they do not necessarily know there are differences between hospitals in these matters,” she said.

Cuidiú is a 1,000-person strong registered charity providing anti-natal classes and advice to mothers.