Sir, - Well done to Marie O'Connor for exposing the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment which many Irish women suffer when giving birth ("Forced labour: how we manage women in childbirth", Health, August 13th). Case studies describing the bullying of women to submit to having their waters broken or labours speeded up are unfortunately not rare occurrences. Couples who come to our support meetings often have similar tales to tell - featuring a denial of their birth plans or stated preferences and the rigid behaviour of hospital staff, clinging to a "one-size-fits-all" policy.
Dr Declan Keane, master of the National Maternity Hospital, is simply incorrect when stating that women have hospital policy explained to them, but their wishes are respected if they say they do not want to have these standard interventions. So much of what passes for "antenatal education" is really a preparation of women for the inevitable -- that to have the birth you want in an Irish hospitals, you will have to be very lucky (with who is on shift when you arrive) or fight very hard.
At a time when our birth rate is rising and midwives are leaving the system as their skills are being sidelined, the Department of Health and Children would do well to listen to what women want in birth - the same midwife for their care throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, and more choice as to place of birth: home, birth centre, or local hospital. Keep the large units for those who truly need them - the 10 per cent of women, as Prof John Bonnar suggests, who will need the involvement of an obstetrician in their care. - Yours, etc.,
Monica O'Connor, PRO, Home Birth Association of Ireland, Ballymurphy, Co Carlow.