Book commentary: conflicts in reproductive health in Catholic Ireland it remains to be seen if the Catholic ethos will be set aside so that contraception services, tubal ligations, abortions, and assisted fertility treatment will be provided consistent with secular law and women’s welfare
Robyn Myna from Athlone and David Kiernan from Blackrock protesting outside the Department of Health in Dublin in 2017, in protest of the government’s decision to grant ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital to the Sisters of Charity. Photo:Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Sat, 01 May, 2021 - 13:00
Don O Leary
The contribution of religious orders to the provision of hospital services in Ireland extends back to 1834 when the Religious Sisters of Charity founded St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. Generally, the role of religious orders was seen in a positive light by Irish Catholics but over the last two decades public opinion has changed radically.
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On
Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the Master of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Professor Shane Higgins said the decision was ‘welcome and responsible.’
“We know, the evidence is mounting now that pregnant women are at greater risk, particularly in the third trimester, if they do get COVID, of more serious symptoms,” he said.
“There is the risk of pre-term birth and we saw a cluster of cases earlier this year of stillbirths within that population.”
Blanket 100%
Asked whether all women who are advised by their doctors to take the vaccine should do so, he replied: “I think it is a blanket 100%.”
Pregnant women should strongly consider getting vaccine when it s available - NMH Master
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He said: “We are aware that pregnant patients who develop COVID-19 are at greater risk of hospital admissions, requiring ventilatory support, increased risk of pre-term birth and stillbirth. That’s what the evidence to date would indicate.
“But we’re not seeing that in our maternity populations here in Ireland. We’ve delivered nearly 7,000 babies since the start of the pandemic here at the National Maternity Hospital… we’ve had just over 80 positive cases… and they’ve all done very well.
“Most of the pregnant population who’ve developed the infection have had very mild, asymptomatic courses of the disease. Very few of them have been symptomatic.
Morning Ireland
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When Jennifer McWilliams (19) made a pre-Christmas dash into Holles Street, she initially thought she was having contractions - given that she was nearly 37 weeks pregnant.