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PARENTING:WHAT IS IT with Irish women and obstetricians? Most of us feel so much safer putting our pregnancy in their care. That makes absolute sense for the minority of expectant mothers who have complications. But why do the rest of us not see midwives as the experts on normal birth? It is abnormal births that are the business of consultants, writes SHEILA WAYMAN

Obstetric care is certainly a big earner for the Republic’s 100-plus consultants involved, the majority of whom work in both the public and private sectors. A private patient can expect to pay fees in the region of €4,000.