An independent review of water births at Cavan and Drogheda hospitals, commissioned after the death of a baby last year, has made 19 recommendations, including the call for extra support for midwives when water births resume at the hospitals.
The review, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, also noted that there were no national standards for water births in the State. It said guidelines were drawn from Britain and elsewhere.
Doula Ireland yesterday called for the introduction of national standards, pointing out that the demand for birthing pools was increasing. Doulas (birth assistants) accompany women through labour and childbirth.
Cavan General Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, were the first hospitals to introduce water-birth facilities, in 2004, but the newly opened Cork University Maternity Hospital has a birthing pool room which has not yet opened.
The Rotunda hospital in Dublin hopes to begin using its pool in a few weeks, after protocols are prepared and staff trained. However, in both cases the pools will only be used during labour and not for birth. University College Hospital Galway also provides special baths for pain relief but not for births.
"More and more women are asking for birthing pools so it makes sense that there are national guidelines," said Tracy Donegan of Doula Ireland.
A spokesman for the Health Service Executive said there were no specific plans for national guidelines but local protocols were in place to ensure that procedures were carried out safely and efficiently.
Water births were suspended by the HSE Dublin North East as a precautionary measure last February following the death of the baby. The baby was born alive in the birthing pool at Cavan but complications arose and the baby was transferred to a Dublin hospital where it died. The inquest is due to be held next week.
An internal HSE review found that there was no cause for concern with the care given during pregnancy, labour or birth. However, pending the results of an external review, it temporarily suspended the use of water pools for giving birth while allowing their use during labour.
About 50 babies had been born in birthing pools in these hospitals before the suspension. The HSE Dublin North East commissioned independent consultants Sector Healthcare to review the procedures and training surrounding water births at the hospitals.
That review, which has been obtained by The Irish Times, found the protocols and guidelines were "of a high standard" and its reviewers supported the resumption of water births.
A HSE spokeswoman said a decision on the resumption of water births would be taken in the "near future" but no date had been set.
The review recommended that when water births resumed, "additional support will be required for some midwives to regain their confidence and competence".
It also noted that some of the key leaders involved in water births had since left.
