Doula Donna

14/01/2026

Maternity Safety Data from October in Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

Nearly 51 out of every 100 first time mothers had their labour induced. Induction is strongly associated with longer labours, higher epidural rates and higher instrumental birth & c-section.

30% of first time mothers had a c-section in October.
WHO suggests population c-section rates above 15-20% do not improve outcomes.

Kilkenny had a 50.9% c-section rate in November.

What do these stats tell us?

Ireland has a very intervention heavy model of care likely with a cascade of intervention.

Low-risk first time mothers (and second time) are being exposed to more intervention than necessary and birth outcomes are highly medicalized.

So what can we do?

I will do a post answering that question tomorrow

06/10/2025

Is it summer time yet 🤣

06/10/2025

24/09/2025

There has to be a better way 😓 I have been on a ward with expectant m**s and newborns on a number of occasions while waiting for hours on a d&c and also while heavily bleeding on my son and waiting to see if there would be a heartbeat

31/03/2025

How did this storyline make you feel?? We need improve Irish maternity care 😞

30/10/2024

We have got this.

You have got this.

Your baby has definitely got this.

You can birth your baby your way, whatever way that might be.

Please feel free to DM for support

29/10/2024

St. Lukes Kilkenny latest figures.

August 2024 58.8% of first time Mother’s had a c-birth.

51.6% of first time Mother’s have had a section this year to date.

My last client had her baby in St. Luke’s, she was very well informed with evidence based research. She had a detailed birth plan. She had a doula with her during appointments and birth. I can’t help wonder if things could have been different for her if this wasn’t the case. And it shouldn’t have to be the case.

Please be informed and reach out if I can help.

28/10/2024

Most recent figures from Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, July 2024.

Rate of c-section for first time m**s is 53%. Over half of women had a c-birth.

WHO recommends a 10-15% c-section rate, anything above this shows overuse of the procedure. A major abdominal surgery.

We have a serious problem.

We are letting our women, babies and families down.

Am I against c-section, absolutely not. I required one on my son and it saved him.

Do I think that 53% need a c-section, absolutely not.

If it is your choice, brilliant.

But it’s not a choice for many.

What do you think? What do we need to do?

14/10/2024

Continuing my education with

20/11/2023

Research included data from trials at Cork University Maternity Hospital