'Who is the most influential woman in your world?'

Each week The Women's Podcast asks listeners a question and in our latest episode we are looking ahead to International Women's Day on March 8th. The Irish Times has a special magazine planned for that date, profiling influential Irish women around the world, so our presenter Kathy Sheridan wanted to know: Who is the most influential woman in your world?

“It could be anyone at all,” said Sheridan speaking ath the special Birth of a Nation edition of the podcast in the Rotunda Hospital. “It could even be your mother”.

Email your responses to thewomenspodcast@irishtimes.com or send tell us about the most influential woman in your world on Twitter or Facebook @itwomenspodcast.

Last week’s question had a maternity theme to tie in with our 1916 Birth of a Nation podcast inthe Rotunda Hospital which featured Holles St Master Rhona Mahony, Rotunda librarian AnneO’Byrne and historian Mary McAuliffe. We wanted to know about the items you would recommend women pack in their bag when going into hospital to give birth.

Here are a selection of the responses:

Miranda (not her real name) wrote:

“My maternity must-have was Kotex night-time towels. Bring dozens, because no one, no matter how much gunk they imagine you emit, will buy mattresses big enough. And, while you’re at it, disposable knickers. Because no one, no matter how much they love you, will thank you for sending them to Mothercare to buy those. I shudder at the memory!”

Eavan Brady said: “Bendy straws are a maternity hospital bag essential. For when you are in the throes of labour and find a good position but are gasping for water and don’t want to move your head. They were invaluable to me six weeks ago when I had my baby girl”

Brid Dunne emailed us on thewomenspodcast@irishtimes.com She is a PhD student in Occupational Therapy at the University of Limerick and sits beside a midwifery researcher. Brid wrote: “I have no children but do hope to have them one day. I’m fairly sure that staying away from raw milk cheese while pregnant is going to be very tough. I am deeply in love with cheese and I feel like that’s going to be a huge challenge for me. So when the time (hopefully) comes, I think a small wheel of Camembert and crackers is going to be an essential part of my kit ... Though I’d really love a home birth so maybe I can just stick it in the fridge.”

Sarah Traynor from Co Meath said: “I’m heading into Hotel Rotunda for my 4th baby in June. My advice if you are staying on a public ward is earplugs. Some people wouldn’t think of this but they are essential.

If you arrive in early labour you’re on a ward for a couple of hours or more... you’ll be so happy to have those earplugs when the woman in the next bed is on her fifth loud phone call while you are trying to do what the hypno-birthing tape said and focus on this most natural thing in the world.

It’s also very hard to stay in the zone when there’s someone howling in agony next to you or worse texting without the key tones turned off. Also, even afterwards if you’ve laboured all night and are safely back on ward with baby sleeping next to you, partner/husband standing guard, there is no nicer feeling than sticking the earplugs in and pulling the blanket over your head for an hour.”

’The Birth of A Nation’ exhibition in the Round Room of the Rotunda Hospital takes place from March 7th until March 31st. Through a series of never before seen images, diaries and video footage, the public will be introduced to the women of the Rising at the Rotunda who went on to become important figures in Irish medical history.

As well as the exhibition there is a series of lunchtime talks which will take place, from 1.15pm-1.45pm in The Pillar Room through March with special guest lecturers providing insights into life at the Rotunda and its medical practice throughout 1916. The talks include one by former Irish Times journalist Padraig Yeats who will be overseeing a conversation titled The Women are Worse than the Men; Crime in Dublin, 1916 on Thursday, March 17th St Patrick's Day.

For more information visit www.rotunda.ie/1916 and you'll find them on twitter @RotundaHospital