FOR busy midwifery staff at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL), International Day of the Midwife (Sunday, May 5) was a day like any other, and also the most special of days for eight new-born babies who arrived into the world during those 24 hours.
The first new arrival at the hospital on May 5 was born at 3.47am, when Limerick City mum Maja Stypula gave birth to a little girl.
Other happy new mums included Edjan Des Santos (Dromcollogher) and Sinéad Grene (Ballybricken), while Amy Power from Ennis gave birth to twins.
These and the mothers of all UMHL new-borns on International Day of the Midwife were presented with commemorative birth certificates.
Among a variety of activities in UMHL to mark this global red-letter day, there was also a visit to the maternity hospital by transition tear students from across the Mid West region to meet with midwives and hear about the pathways to midwifery as a career option.
For Director of Midwifery at UMHL, Eileen Ronan, the day highlights the uniqueness of care that midwives provide for mothers and new-born babies, as well as the diversity and progressiveness of midwifery as a career.
“Midwives are an incredibly important presence for women and their families during all stages of pregnancy, labour, and the post-natal period,” she said.
“And as a career, there are options available in clinical, management, education, and research roles, allowing trainees to gain experience in a variety of specialist maternal care areas.”
Some of the staff midwives at UMHL have been speaking about the sense of fulfilment from working in midwifery.
Staff midwife Laura Flannery said that “as a midwife on the post-natal ward, I love being part of a team that cares for and supports mothers and babies during their first special few days”.
Laura’s colleague Amy Downes explained that “being a midwife fulfils me in a way that I don’t think anything else ever could”.
“I feel so unbelievably honoured to have the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives at such a fundamental time, whatever the case may be. I’m thankful to every family that has let me be a part of their journey—it’s a true privilege.”
