Pregnancy
Where will I have my baby? Home, Hospital or Birth Centre?
For some women and pregnant people there will be more choices in where you have your baby than for others - this will have to do with geography (where you live and what services are provided there), your capacity to pay (some services are not free) and also your risk status. Not all birthing options are advisable for all people based on their expected risk of adverse outcomes. Basic choices are made about who will look after you and where they will look after you. The person who looks after women and people experiencing a normal physiological pregnancy is a midwife. They can take care of you at home or in hospital. Some midwives work just in one part of the hospital , for example just with women in pregnancy and others work with women all the way through their pregnancies labours births and the postpartum, for example home birth midwives. The other people that might take care of you during your pregnancy are doctors, both junior doctors (house doctors), more experienced doctors (called registrars) and senior doctors with a lot of experience called consultant obstetricians.
Midwifery Led Birthing Units in Ireland
Maternity Hospitals in Ireland
Birth Centres in Ireland
There are no birthing centres in the Republic of Ireland
Home Birth Midwives in Ireland
Working as part of the National Home Birth Scheme
Dublin Wicklow and Meath
Eilis Jordan ejordan450@gmail.com 087 924 8727 Dublin South.
Ruth Banks ruth.keane@hotmail.com 087 133 3476 South Dublin/Wicklow
Carolyn Coughlin coughlca@tcd.ie 086 358 3245 Dublin/Wicklow
Ali Murphy alisonmurphy74@gmail.com 087 222 3100 Dublin/Wicklow
Darry Reed darryreed@hotmail.com 087 412 9409 Dublin/Wicklow/Kildare
Sarah McCann sarah@birthlogic.ie 087 962 5544 Dublin/Meath
Niamh Bates nobates@gmail.com 086 155 6115 Dublin/Meath
Nanni Schluenz nannisch@me.com 086 331 1531 Dublin/Meath/Louth
Midlands and Wexford
Aine Hennessy ahennessy1990@gmail.com 085 729 7529 W Dublin/W Wicklow/Meath/Kildare/Laois/Carlow/Nth Kilkenny
Angela Cotter birthtobasics@gmail.com 086 885 3577 Westmeath/Longford/Laois/Offaly/Kildare
Brenda Campion O’Toole bcampionotoole@gmail.com 086 832 8859 Kilkenny/Laois/Offaly/Carlow/East Tipperary
Helen Coe helencoe.midwife@gmail.com 085 766 6276 Nth. Tipperary/Offaly/East Clare
Brenda Harkin brenda@simplybirthandbeyond.ie 085 122 4132 Wexford/Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow
Emily Moffatt mymidwifeemily@gmail.com 087 950 7969 Wexford/Wicklow
Aoife Hughes efa_doss@hotmail.com 089 255 7598 Wexford
Cork and Kerry
Mary Cronin marycronin808@gmail.com 087 279 6325 Cork
Sophie Ege egesophie@aol.com 087 180 4770 Cork
Caroline Corcoran caroline@corkmidwife.ie 089 256 6198 Cork
Elke Hasner elke.hasner@hse.ie 087 252 5771 Cork/Kerry
Sinead Murphy sineadmidwife@hotmail.com 087 251 4939 Kerry/Cork
Kirsty Hawthorn hi@kirstyhawthorn.com 085 772 2004 Kerry/Cork
The West
Aisling Dixon aislingdixon@hotmail.com 087 764 1447 Westmeath/East Galway/Sth. Roscommon
Rebecca Colohan rebeccapower2004@gmail.com 087 213 5852 Galway/Clare
Carmel Connolly McFadden carmelmcfad@gmail.com 086 842 4910 Galway
Maternity Units in Acute Hospitals in Ireland
Other Home Birth Providers in Ireland
Its not just about the place - its about who will take care of you and how they will take care of you
Midwifery Care
A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and care after birth for the mother and baby.
A midwife:
Provides care during pregnancy (antenatal care)
Supports and manages labour and birth
Cares for the mother and newborn after birth (postnatal care)
Offers guidance on breastfeeding, newborn care, and other female health issues
Midwives focus on normal, low-risk pregnancies and births, and they emphasize a holistic, woman-centered approach supporting physical, emotional, and social well-being. They are trained to recognize complications and will refer to doctors when medical intervention is needed.
Midwifery care is available in Public Midwifery Outpatient Clinics you attend when you are pregnant, they will also be the primary carer for you during your labour, whether it is induced or spontaneous. They are also your primary carer even when things may be very medicalised, for example during a c-section. They midwife will be with you before the procedure, take you up to theatre and settle you in the postnatal ward and help you breastfeed afterwards for example.
EVERYONE WHO HAS A BABY IN IRELAND IS LOOKED AFTER BY PUBLIC MIDWIVES DURING THEIR LABOUR AND BIRTH - even if you have hired a private obstetrician you will still be looked after by a midwife during your labour and birth. Your obstetrician will be called from time to time to pop in and see how you are doing and will also be called if there is a query about the wellbeing of you or your baby, but otherwise EVERYONE IS LOOKED AFTER BY A MIDWIFE. People who sign up with a midwifery led option will usually be looked after during labour and birth by a midwifery team specialising in low risk pregnancies. People who sign up for home birth
After you have your baby EVERYONE IS LOOKED AFTER BY MIDWIVES IN THE POSTNATAL WARDS, irrespective of whether they are private or public postnatal room
MIDWIFERY OPTIONS
HOMEBIRTH (PUBLIC SERVICE)
Your antenatal care will mostly take place at home with your named midwife if you are part of the HSE home birth scheme. You must be registered with a maternity hospital and some visits will take place in the hospital. If you are with a community midwifery team and you will receive your antenatal care from one of a team of midwives at home or in the community. It is expected that you will give birth at home but there may be a reason to transfer to hospital if there are any concerns about either your or your baby’s well being in the antenatal period or during the labour and birth. If you are with the HSE homebirth scheme you will give birth at home with a named midwife and a second midwife. If you are with a community team then you will give birth with one of team of midwives and a second. Your named midwife or a a midwife from the team of midwives will attend you for 5 to 10 days after you have your baby depending on whether this is your first baby or not.
PUBLIC MIDWIFERY LED OPTION
DOMINO SERVICE
COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY SERVICE
MIDWIFERY LED UNIT
These services will involve receiving antenatal care in the community usually a local clinic, hospital and the GP. You will see a team of midwives and usually one of the midwives will be on the labour ward when you go into labour. After giving birth you will be offered a public room (6 - 8 beds), but you will also be offered the option of Early Transfer home in many hospitals where you can leave after 24 hours and have midwifery visits at home for five days. All midwifery services are overseen by a named obstetrician..
PUBLIC MIDWIFERY CLINICS
Your antenatal care will be provided by midwives but you will not see the same midwife at each visit.. The clinic will have a senior doctor in charge. Your labour and birth will be managed by midwives and your postnatal care will be in a public ward (6 - 8 people). You may be be offered the option of Early Transfer home in many hospitals where you can leave after 24 hours and have midwifery visits at home for five days. All midwifery services are overseen by a named obstetrician.
Obstetric or doctor based Care
An obstetrician is a medical doctor who:
Specialises in pregnancy and childbirth complications
Manages high-risk pregnancies
Performs medical and surgical interventions, such as:
Caesarean sections
Assisted deliveries (forceps / vacuum)
Managing serious complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage)
Prescribes medications and leads care when medical treatment is required
In some countries obstetricians only become involved in maternity care when problems arise. However in Ireland it is possible to choose to work with an obstetrician (a consultant) or with obstetric staff such as junior registrars and senior registrars even when your risk status would suggest that a midwife is the better option for you
OBSTETRIC OPTIONS
PRIVATE OBSTETRIC CARE
You will see the same consultant obstetrician for all your antenatal visits and they (or a nominated second) will be there for the birth of your baby. You will receive you support and care during labour from public midwives and your postnatal care will be provided by midwives. You may be eligible to avail of a private room postnatally if there is one available.
SEMI PRIVATE OBSTETRIC CARE
You will see the same team of senior doctors for all your antenatal visits. Your team will have a named consultant. During labour and birth you will be attended by public midwives. You will be offered a semi private room (4 beds on average) after you have your baby
PUBLIC DOCTOR CLINICS
You will see a junior doctor for all your antenatal visits. Your team will have a senior registrar and a named consultant. During labour and birth you will be attended by public midwives. You will be offered a public room after you give birth (6 - 8 beds on average). You may be be offered the option of Early Transfer home in many hospitals where you can leave after 24 hours and have midwifery visits at home for five days.
Doula Support
A doula is not a medical professional but a trained support person who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to people before, during, and after birth.
A Doula is a private option but is covered by many health insurance policies. Doulas provide antenatal preparation including discussion of options and choices and consideration of values and preferences. A doula will establish a strong emotional relationship with their clients during the antenatal period and will really get to know them. They will also be available for questions about tests and options as they arise. They will also help prepare for the postnatal and the new baby as well as provide intense emotional support in the weeks running up to the birth.
During Labour and Birth
A doula will attend her client at home in early labour whether she is having a hoe birth or a hospital birth. If ta hospital birth is planned, she will help the family to decide when the best time to go to hospital is and try to make that transfer as easy as possible.
If a woman is opting for induction of labour a doula will attend the induction with her and offer her comfort and pain coping mechanisms that are not pharmaceutical
In active labour the doula will stay continuously with the birthing person until the baby is born
A doula will offer comfort measures such as:
Massage, counter-pressure
Breathing and relaxation techniques
Support for mobility and positions
A doula provides emotional encouragement, reassurance, and advocacy
A doula helps partners or family members understand how to assist
A doula does not perform medical procedures or make clinical decision
During the postnatal period a doula will
Support bonding and breastfeeding
Offer guidance on newborn care and maternal wellbeing
Provide emotional support during the adjustment period
Help with postpartum recovery nutrition, sleep strategies, and mental health
You can find a doula through one of the two doula associations in Ireland:
The Doula Association of Ireland https://doula.ie/
The Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas https://www.itpad.ie/
If you would like to train as a doula the most comprehensive Doula Training Course is offered by Krysia Lynch. Find our more here https://www.dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch
What services are available in which maternity hospital
This table provides an overview of maternity care models available across Irish maternity units. Services change over time, and families should confirm current availability, eligibility and referral pathways directly with their chosen maternity unit.
Key: Yes = service available | No = service not currently identified | Historical = previously available
| Maternity Unit | Public Obstetric | Public Midwife Clinic | Semi-Private | Private Obstetric | MLU | Hospital Home Birth | HSE Home Birth | DOMINO | Community Midwifery | Community ANC | Early Transfer Home | Postnatal Hub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Maternity Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rotunda Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cork University Maternity Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| University Hospital Waterford | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wexford General Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| University Hospital Kerry | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| University Maternity Hospital Limerick | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mayo University Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Historical | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Portiuncula University Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| University Hospital Galway | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sligo University Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Letterkenny University Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cavan General Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Maternity services change over time. This table provides a guide to models of care currently available across Irish maternity units. Families should confirm current availability, eligibility and referral pathways directly with their chosen maternity unit. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Glossary of terms
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Public obstetric care is the standard maternity care pathway available through the HSE under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.
Women receive antenatal care through their maternity hospital, with care provided by midwives and doctors. Obstetric input is provided when required based on individual circumstances.
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A Public Midwife Clinic provides antenatal care from midwives within the public maternity service. Midwives will liaise with doctors when they need to, but you will primarily be seeing midwives as part of a MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team). In some hospitals this is called n out patient clinic.
Women who are suitable for midwifery-led antenatal care may have some or all of their pregnancy appointments with midwives rather than doctors.
A Public Midwife Clinic is not the same as:
a Midwifery-Led Unit (MLU),
a DOMINO service,
or a community midwifery service.
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Semi-private maternity care is a consultant-led maternity care pathway where women attend a formal semi-private clinic team within a maternity hospital.
This is different from private obstetric care. Semi-private maternity care costs less and you will see a team of senior doctors (Registrars) working under one Consultant Obstetrician. The model of care offers you semi private accommodation after you have had your baby.. People who have some form of health insurance often consider this option of care.
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Private obstetric care involves choosing a named private consultant obstetrician who provides pregnancy care through the maternity hospital.
Private care is consultant-led and is separate from the public maternity pathway. You will pay for this service and your private health insurance will cover some of it. If you do not have private health insurance you can simply pay out of pocket.
You may be able to claim some tax back on some aspects of your care.
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A Midwifery-Led Unit is a dedicated unit within a maternity service where midwives provide care for women with straightforward pregnancies.
MLUs are designed around a midwifery model of care and are separate from standard labour wards.
In Ireland, there are currently two Midwifery-Led Units:
Cavan General Hospital
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
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A Hospital Home Birth Service is a home birth programme operated directly by a maternity hospital.
Women receive care from hospital-employed midwives who provide planned home birth services under the hospital’s governance structure.
This is different from the HSE Home Birth Service.
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The HSE Home Birth Service provides publicly funded planned home birth care through self-employed community midwives who are contracted by the HSE.
Eligibility criteria apply, and women considering home birth are assessed by the midwife providing the service.
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DOMINO is a continuity of midwifery care model.
A DOMINO service generally involves:
antenatal care from a named midwife or small team of midwives,
birth in the hospital maternity unit,
early discharge home after birth,
postnatal care provided at home by the same midwifery team.
DOMINO is different from community midwifery because it provides continuity of care across pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
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Community midwives provide maternity care outside the hospital setting, often through clinics, health centres or home visits.
Community midwifery services may include antenatal and postnatal care but do not necessarily provide the full continuity model offered by DOMINO. That is to say whilst this team of midwives may take care of you before or after your baby is born they do not take care of you during your labour.
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Community Antenatal Clinics are antenatal appointments provided outside the hospital setting, often in community locations.
These clinics aim to bring maternity care closer to where women live and may involve midwives, obstetric teams or other maternity professionals.
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Early Transfer Home allows eligible women and babies to leave hospital earlier after birth and continue receiving postnatal care at home from midwives.
The service usually includes:
assessment of mother and baby,
breastfeeding support,
newborn checks,
postnatal advice and support.
Availability varies between maternity units. In general this is a public service only and therefore only available to those in the public care pathway
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A Postnatal Hub is a community-based service designed to provide additional support to women and babies after birth.
Services may include:
breastfeeding support,
newborn checks,
maternal wellbeing support,
postnatal advice,
access to maternity professionals.
Postnatal hubs are part of the evolving development of community-based postnatal care in Ireland.
Choices you will have to make during pregnancy
Where will I have my baby?
Who will take care of me?
Do I want to hire a doula?
What tests do I want? (If any?)
What scans do I want to have? (If any?)
Do I want to be induced?
Am I planning a normal physiological birth or am I planning for a c section?
How do I plan to feed my baby?
How will I prepare my body and mind for labour and birth and the postpartum?
How do I feel about pain management in my labour?
Questions you may have during pregnancy
What happens at my antenatal appointments?
What interventions am I likely to be offered and how do I find out about them?
What are my rights in the Irish Maternity Services?
Can I decline suggested procedures treatments or tests?
Should I make a birth preference sheet?
Can I take my placenta home?
Will the maternity service provide me with an interpreter if English is not my first language?
Am I entitled to access my notes?
Can I change provider if I realise I have made the wrong choice for me?
How can I make a complaint?
My preferred option for birth doesn’t exist in my area, can I freebirth at home?
Can I have a VBAC or a VBA2C?
What are my options if my baby sits breech at the end of my pregnancy?
Can I have a doula with me at my birth?
Are there lay midwives in Ireland?