Giving birth in Dublin hospitals

[SouthDubMum]

Dublin mothers, what are your thoughts on Dublin maternity hospitals as regards religious ethos? A friend of mine told me she is switching from Holles St to the Coombe because 'so many people' told her Holles Street has a Catholic ethos, and therefore puts the baby's life first before the mother's.

I myself had a few children in Holles Street with excellent experiences, loved the community midwives there, it is also most conveniently located for me and my friend.

I had mildly negative experience (before the abortion ref) when I had a miscarriage and they refused to do anything to treat me 'because I might have got my dates wrong'. I have no idea if it would have been different in the Coombe or the Rotunda then or now.

Me and my friend are not Catholics or Christians at all but another religion entirely if that makes any difference. Both not from Ireland orginally.

Atheist and had mine in the Rotunda. Not a sound of religion in there.

That's a really out-dated view though there was a time when the Rotunda was favoured over Holles St and the Coombe for that reason. The Coombe was not any less RC than Holles St. The hospitals have different management of birth protocols, they may suit you better or worse logistically and both are good reasons for decisions. But ethos of the maternity hospitals isn't a factor any more.

I was only in Holles Street once, for a D&C after a miscarriage. I didn't find there was any religious connotations at all. Now maybe I missed them, I was pretty upset. But I spoke to a fantastic consultant who went through my options with me. This was 2020 so post referendum.

There might have been holy statues but I can't remember

The Rotunda was traditionally the least Catholic - most Protestant Dubliners (both North and Southside!) would have gone there. As PPs have said, it's probably not a thing to have to be concerned about any more.

Went to Holles Street for all 3 pregnancies- no religious connotations at all. Just really wonderful staff - both doctors, nurses and midwives.

I think your friend's view is an historical one, that doesn't really exist anymore.