Midwife-led care would increase satisfaction

WELL done for highlighting the diversity of experiences for Irish women in their journey to motherhood (Irish Examiner, October 23-27).

The picture was one of an obstetrical model — it is assumed there will be problems, so women who opt for midwife-led care are ‘allowed’ this after being deemed low-risk by an obstetrician.

We should be according midwives their primary role as caregivers in normal labour and birth, with the involvement of obstetricians only when a midwife refers a woman to them if some problem arises.

It is a pity the survey omitted women who have home births. I had a labour augmentation hospital birth for my first child, then a C-section, followed by three home births. All check-ups for my last three children happened in my home at times that suited my family and the midwife. The relationship with the midwife was crucial to my not needing drugs for pain relief and contributed greatly to making the births family events, not medical emergencies.

Giving midwives their primary role would increase satisfaction for all concerned and decrease rates of unnecessary and harmful interventions.

Monica O’Connor

Ballymurphy

Tullow

Co Carlow