25.01.21
October 2020 saw the results of the first Irish Maternity Experience Survey, providing an important insight into women’s experiences at all stages of maternity care in Ireland - antenatal, care during labour and birth and postnatal care. This major national survey was carried out by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) in conjunction with the HSE (Irish Health Service Executive) in October and November 2019, as part of the Irish Maternity Strategy 2016 - 2026.
MMM associate member Irish Maternity Support Network (IMSN), was involved in the development of this survey right from the start. IMSN co-founder Edel Quirke sat on the committee and made extensive contributions as the service user representative.
The Main Findings
Overall, 85% of women reported having had a good or very good experience with 15% describing it as fair or poor. The lower scoring more negative findings were consistent across all units with regard to the lack of information in the antenatal period and poor mental health support throughout, particularly in the postnatal period.
One of the most concerning findings was in the area of respect and dignity – between 19 and 26% of women reported that they were not always treated with dignity and respect throughout their antenatal and postnatal care. In a survey of 3,204 women, this represents over 830 women exiting the maternity service experiencing the impact and subsequent effects of this negative treatment.
Loss during Pregnancy and Childbirth
One of the aspects of maternity care that wasn’t addressed in this survey was the experience of loss in pregnancy and how women experience their care in Ireland’s maternity services during such a painful and traumatic time. Following considerable representation by Edel Quirke and support from other members, the survey committee has given an undertaking that the next maternity experience survey, due to be carried out within the next two years, will focus exclusively on the experiences women have in maternity services following loss. IMSN recommended that other organisations that support people experiencing bereavement and loss during pregnancy and childbirth be consulted and represented on the committee when preparing this next survey.
VIDEO
Edel Quirke, representative of women using maternity services to the National Maternity Experience Survey Programme Board talks to Rachel Flynn (Chair) and the Programme Board about the results of the first ever National Maternity Experience Survey, published on 1 October 2020.
04.03.20
UN New York - Report on the side-event that MMM organized on the margins of the 58th session of the Commission on Social Development on 18 February 2020 at the
12.11.20
Make Mothers Matter (MMM), backed by key global personalities and organisations, is kicking off the #RaiseAPen campaign with a strong mobilisation video, answering the call of mothers in Afghanistan f
08.03.20
International Women's Day - 'Time to Care’, the Oxfam report released earlier this year, put the spotlight on the link between global inequalities and an issue at the core of
20.02.21
In April 2015 the Shared Parental Leave Scheme came into force in the United Kingdom. The new scheme still required that new mothers take the first two weeks of maternity leave. But now they could exchange th
25.01.21
October 2020 saw the results of the first Irish Maternity Experience Survey, providing an important insight into women’s experiences at all stages of maternity care in Ireland - antenatal, care during labour
03.12.20
We answered by submitting a paper describing our views on the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.
12.11.20
In a joint statement on 12 November 2020, together with numerous organisations, we called on the European Commission to respond to the Council Conclusions of October 2020, on “Strengthening Minimum Income P
15.10.20
13 October 2020: The Employment, Social Policy and Health Consumer affairs Council of the EU (EPSCO) held a virtual debate on the equal participation of women and men in the labour market. They discussed way
12.10.20
On 7 October 2020, MMM, together with its partners at the Alliance for Investing in Children and with the European Parents' Association, responded to the Public Consultation on the Road Map for the Child Guaran