Website Launch

Cork and Kerry Home Birth Midwives launch website

The community midwives who work on the HSE Home Birth Scheme in Cork and Kerry have set up their own website, www.corkandkerryhomebirth.ie and are launching it on the International Day of the Midwife, 5th May.

There are more home births in Cork than in any other county in Ireland, including Dublin. There has always been a history in the Rebel County of women wanting to have their birth their own way. The community midwives don’t just talk the talk, most of them have had their own babies at home, and have been midwives for each other!

Mary Cronin, a well-known community midwife based in Kinsale said: ‘I have been privileged to support several of my colleagues when the time came for them to have their own babies at home, and it is a very special experience. There is nothing like that moment when a baby is born, and you see the joy on the mother’s face! The women love being tucked up in their own bed after the birth, with a cup of tea and toast, for cuddles with their newborn.’

The 6 midwives are a diverse group, and hail from Europe and Ireland, including from Germany, Holland and the UK. There is plenty of expertise within the group, who have many years of combined experience of supporting women through their pregnancies and births, the journey to becoming a mother, and the difficulties they may face along the way.

They are all experienced in midwifery-led care, and committed to providing a safe and trusted service to the women of Cork and Kerry. The HSE started funding the scheme as a pilot project 15 years ago, and it was so popular and successful that it was mainstreamed nationally 10 years ago, providing free home births to low-risk women. Around 0.3% of Irish births take place at home, with good outcomes reported. (See the infographic for more statistics around home birth).

For further information/interview please contact any of the Cork and Kerry Home Birth Midwives.