A new Midwifery-Led Clinic within maternity services at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise was launched last week.
The clinic was officially launched on International Day of the Midwife, May 5, by Angela Dunne, Director of Midwifery for the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme.
Susan O’Callaghan, Advanced Midwife Practitioner Candidate is leading on the new initiative.
The new Midwifery-Led Clinic in the Maternity Department at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise aims to provide high-quality, safe care for all women, babies and their families that attend the service.
Midwives provide up to date evidence based care and information for women, supporting them throughout pregnancy, preparing them for labour, birth and caring for themselves and their newborn baby in the first few weeks after delivery.
Maureen Revilles Director of Midwifery at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise on the launch of the new midwifery-led clinic said: “Pregnancy labour and birth are considered a normal physiological life event.
“The majority of women who avail of our maternity service are healthy and well. Midwifery–led services offer the majority of women a woman-centred safe alternative to consultant led care, which is cost effective.
“We are delighted to offer this new service where our midwives can offer more time to women to monitor the progress of the pregnancy, discuss birth preferences and any fears or concerns the woman may have about pregnancy and birth.”
On choosing midwifery as a career, Claire Fitzpatrick, Clinical Midwife Specialist in Lactation said: “A midwife is central to preparing women and their families for the delivery of their new baby and is a vital presence during all stage of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.
“As a career, midwifery is diverse and progressive, with options available in clinical, management, education and research roles.
“Throughout their training, midwives can gain experience and skills across different specialist areas.”
Marking this year’s International Day of the Midwife, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise also released a video encouraging people to consider midwifery as a career.
Claire Fitzpatrick, Clinical Midwife Specialist in Lactation explained why she chose midwifery as a career, what she loves about her role and how she has developed her career in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.
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