Having a baby in Ireland, currently living in UK

[2020mc]

Hi everyone. I'm Irish, living in the UK and due to have my first baby in 2021. Just wondering if anyone has gone home to Ireland to have their baby? Any advice? Would you recommend? Pros and cons etc? The main pull is to be closer family and friends for support. I would spend my mat leave in Ireland with the view to moving permanently. We are very fortunate to have a house available to us for the time we will need it. Would really appreciate any info.

I live btwn UK and Ireland, and while the NHS is bloody well falling apart, it's still a lot better than Irish healthcare.

Haven't had a baby in Ireland so can't comment on that, but if you have a healthy pregnancy you'll be fine of course.

Overall the low standard of health in Ireland is one reason I wouldn't live there full time. But there are many great things to balance that of course!

I'm in Ireland and pregnant. Had my first in the UK. If I had the choice I'd definitely have this one in the UK. Only exception maybe if you'd be living in Dublin.

I know that there's no way of knowing how this labour will go but I know that there's no chance even to start with getting the labour I would like even if all goes well. No birthing pools is my main concern, followed by much more consultant led and I don't even want to spend 1 night in hospital, but will quite possibly be in for 3 night even with a straight forward birth as there are no community midwives in my area.

It does depend on which county you're in- there are some community midwives, a birthing pool in Dublin, and I believe a nice midwife led unit in Cavan if it manages to stay open.

Saw a lovely midwife for my last appointment who had worked in London previously. She was in no way negative about the Irish healthcare system or unprofessional, but she did make it clear that the provision in Ireland for choices for birth are very very lacking in comparison to the UK.

Having said that, I know people who've had terrible experiences in the UK, and good experiences in Ireland.

Will it even be practical to move over just in time for the birth, or are you flexible that you'd be moving permanently from around 36 weeks?

You could just come by ferry shortly after birth, might be a long journey with lot and lots of stops for a new born.

I agree with the above comments yes it would be fab to be near family but the healthcare facilities in the UK are better than those in the South. You write like you have an option to stay or go, could you not sit tight where you are, make all the preperations for moving, have baby in the UK and then when you are recovered from the birth move? I know moving isnt ideal with a newborn but I did it (not to different country) but it wasnt that bad.

Thanks so much for the replies.

I had originally planned on moving home in the next couple of months, but when I found of I was pregnant thought I'd be better to stay a bit longer to take mat leave here etc. I will realistically be able to go back when 30 weeks pregnant, that was what I had in my head to set myself up with gp, hospital etc. Lots of food for thought in your messages though. Will keep mulling it over. Would really appreciate any more info or opinions 😁

What hospital would you be looking at?

I had my maternity care up until 36 weeks at Holles Street through the public system. I moved back to NI in time to give birth with the NHS and honestly the difference between what was available in terms of pain relief, birth pools, even the move from old fashioned wards to private rooms was like night and day.

I started dd’s birth in an NHS midwife led centre with mood lighting, a massive bath, flat screen TV and sofa bed. DH was stunned and video called MIL in Dublin to show her- he was walking round the room like “Mam, it’s like a hotel!”. BUT the last thing I cared about was watching fucking Homes on the Hammer on the flatscreen while I was contracting.

Having said that, I couldn’t fault the actual staff through either system, they were all brilliant. If you’re happy with an epidural and/or gas and air, and don’t care about getting a private room etc then public in ROI is fine. If you’re keen to try other forms of pain relief or a water birth, then the NHS might be a better fit.

I think it depends on where you are based OP. My hospital has a midwife led team who facilitate home births. They don't do water births as a standard here but some hospitals have thenm. I think it's more of a person to person thing rather than a Ireland v U.K. thing?