Sir, – Throughout midwife Ann Ó Ceallaigh’s legal battles, research presented by international childbirth experts on her behalf was consistently ignored. It was necessary for her to engage specialists from abroad, as in Ireland she is probably the most experienced practitioner of domiciliary midwifery.
The deregistration of Ann O’Ceallaigh (Home News, August 5th) casts aside 40 years of expertise and knowledge of the physiology of natural birth.
In contrast, the medical establishment introduces guidelines and forces midwives to sign a memorandum of agreement that discounts the skills of observation, vigilant care, physical and emotional support and reflective practice that are employed by the home birth midwife. These new regulations insert a deep layer of bureaucracy between the midwife and his or her client.
One-to-one care in an environment of mutual trust has been the essential characteristic of a good home birth as experienced by myself and many others. This action by the Nursing and Midwifery Board can never negate the respect for and appreciation of Ann Ó Ceallaigh by her former clients, and the affection which is held for her by the “Ann Kelly Babies” many of whom are now young adults. – Yours, etc,
MARY GALLAGHER
Arnold Grove,
Glenageary, Co Dublin.