# Mothers
This year
2023
Varadkar 'reluctant' to make changes after review of state's abortion laws seeks end to three-day wait
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will bring a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday on the report’s recommendations.
Last year
2022
Taoiseach ‘more than willing’ to offer State apology for illegal birth registrations
Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman yesterday issued an apology in the Seanad on behalf of the Government.
All time
Every Irish hospital to follow the same rules over maternity access by the end of the day, Donnelly says
Partners of expectant mothers were being refused access in certain hospitals.
HSE says 'conditions are right' for restrictions on partners in maternity hospitals to be lifted
HSE CEO Paul Reid said today he is writing to all maternity units about partner restrictions.
'Another case of it's only women so who bloody cares': Hundreds complain to minister about maternity restrictions
Correspondence sent to the health minister reveals emotional pleas for the restrictions to be lifted.
Mothers 'unlikely' to pass Covid-19 on to newborn babies via breastfeeding if precautions are taken
The findings were part of a preliminary study published in The Lancet.
'The scariest part was there was no remorse': One survivor on her experience of domestic abuse
Our reader has survived an abusive relationship and has advice for anyone else trapped in one.
'I felt lonely and stupid': New mothers' health problems often 'ignored or dismissed'
Many women put their health in second place after giving birth, an expert has said.
Giving birth in the 1960s: 'All the mothers were terrified of the doctors and matron so we never asked any questions'
‘Was I traumatised? I don’t know – back then you just had to get on with it,’ writes Ava Stapleton.
Hungary to give women with 4 or more children lifelong tax exemption
Viktor Orban announced that and other measures during his “state of the nation” address.
New study seeks first-time mothers in Ireland who experienced trauma during childbirth
The study will explore the impact of a traumatic birth on a mother’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Serena Williams hails rule changes to protect mothers in tennis
The 37-year-old American had her daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017.
Concerns raised over morning sickness medication being sold to women online
There have been calls for the drug, which can cost up to €3,000, to be made available to women with a medical card.
Experiencing mothering stress and burnout? Psychologist gives advice on steps to take
Idealistic images of motherhood on social media causes mums to feel insecure and isolated, writes Niamh Delmar.
More than 27,000 fathers have taken paternity leave so far
“We have to take a wider societal view and not think of rearing children as something best done in one’s spare time, preferably by women,” Deirdre Clune said.
The average age for a mother to give birth in Ireland is 32.5 years old
The number of teenage mothers has fallen by 50% between 2005 and 2015.
'My son had a 10% chance of survival and I only had 8 weeks paid leave when I got him home'
Calls for extended maternity leave and benefit for mothers of premature babies.
'Shocked and disappointed': Pressure mounts to restore funding for breastfeeding support initiative
The HSE said it plans to provide funding for a new, revised model.
Chrissy Teigen asked mams to share the meanest thing their kid has ever said
The results were fantastic.
12 mothers share their best (and funniest) breastfeeding stories
“In the throes of passion I suddenly realised I was spraying my boyfriend with a leaking left breast.”
Mother's Day stats: July most popular month for having babies and Leitrim has lowest number of births
Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan had the largest families with 2.19 children per family on average.
Public asked to lay flowers at graves of Magdalene women today
Over 1,600 women are buried in cemeteries around the country, many of whom are in unmarked graves.
'I was tested to the limit': How hypnobirthing is helping women during labour
“Some people think it’s new age, hippy dippy. It’s anything other than that. It’s very practical, down to earth.”
This clean-freak mother managed to pull off the single most 'Mam' move of all time
She’s done what every mam only dreams of doing – ‘closed down’ her freshly cleaned living room. For a month.
Dublin Airport admits that controversial breastfeeding sign "could have been worded better"
The sign was taken down shortly after being put on the door of the airport’s ‘designated baby feeding room’.
Nicola Sturgeon opens up about miscarriage in hope of 'breaking taboo'
The Scottish First Minister said she wanted to challenge assumptions and judgements that are made about women who don’t have children.
Fathers have rights and they just got a lot stronger this year
There’s been a radical overhaul of father’s rights in areas of access, custody and guardianship.
'What if he says a new word? What if he forgets me? The back-to-work guilts are the worst'
The fear of missing out is something every mother experiences returning to work after maternity leave, writes Jennifer Ryan Moran.
Surrogate mother gives birth to her own granddaughter
53-year-old Tracey Thompson gave birth to a healthy baby girl yesterday, seven years after going through menopause.
Weight gain between pregnancies linked to increased risk of stillbirth and infant death
Babies of mothers who gain more than 11kg between pregnancies have about a 50% greater risk of their baby dying in the first four weeks of life.
This mam's response to breastfeeding shamers has taken off on Facebook
She certainly called them out.
'We're finally getting rid of the buggy. Here are 10 things I won't miss about it'
The ‘no buggy allowed’ signs, the leaf sludge and, of course, the dog poo, writes Claire Micks.
'When my maternity leave was over I cried when I dropped my son at crèche for the first time'
It’s ok to not feel ok when you return to work after maternity leave, writes Tracey Gunn.
Over 9,000 Irish women or 'inmates' went through these doors, forced to repent
Paul Redmond tells us what he has learned about St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home in Dublin.
Over 100 twins saved by laser surgery while still in the womb
The procedure involves placing a tiny camera through the mother’s abdomen and into the womb.
Teens are changing 'no' to 'HELL YEAH' in their mams' phones (with A++ results)
Won’t somebody think of the mams?
Women inherit more than their looks from their mothers
And it can be used to make children healthier.
