Happy, healthy babies were what meant most to the women in the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, Dublin, yesterday where cramped wards and serious staff depletion were seen as mere inconveniences.
Yes, it was "inconvenient" that they had to help each other walk to the shower, but for the most part, mothers reserved their sympathy for the midwives outside on the picket lines.
"I feel sorry for the nurses," said Ms Bernadette Byrne, from Stepaside, Co Dublin, whose baby girl, Ava, was born less than an hour before the strike began on Tuesday. "They are so busy, I am trying not to ask them to help me with things I can do myself."
She was slightly apprehensive about leaving the hospital less than two days after Ava's birth.
Ms Jackie Byrne, from Shankill, Co Dublin, said that while her baby's delivery was smooth - full nursing cover has been maintained in the antenatal, neo-natal and delivery units - the hospital had been "fairly chaotic" since she had the baby, her second child, on Monday.
"You know you are not getting the same attention as the first time and you can understand how some people, especially first-time mothers, feel a bit hard done by during what is supposed to be a special time."
She had been concerned that, like many other women, she would have to leave the hospital before she or baby Fionn were ready. She is diabetic and was grateful that she would be allowed to stay until tomorrow.
In the next bed, a first-time mother, Ms Edel Nassens, cradled Simon on her lap - he was born by emergency Caesarean section on Monday morning. "I was worried before and hoped he would be born before the strike." Although patients were getting enough care she did not totally agree with the strike and felt that the nurses had already received a good deal. "But I am a bit ambivalent . . . I've had a happy, healthy baby and the rest of it is just washing over me."
Baby cots stood empty yesterday in three of the hospital's five post-natal wards which have been closed. Extra beds were being placed in the two remaining wards for expectant mothers due to arrive last night.
In contrast to the five acute Dublin hospitals which have refused access to journalists, management at Holles Street is up-front about its view on the strike.
The master of the hospital, Dr Declan Keane, said yesterday that he and the other consultants and doctors were fully supportive of the nurses and it was upsetting that there seemed to be no urgency in the talks. He regretted that they were not able to run the hospital to the usual standards.