For most women pregnancy and birth are a normal, healthy part of their lives.  The care you choose to have for your pregnancy and birth will depend on a number of things.  In this section we will explain the different options of care that we provide in the Rotunda and this will help you to decide what the right choice is for you.

Once you find out that you are pregnant you should make contact with the hospital and request an appointment for your first or ‘bookingʾ visit. You will be waiting a number of weeks for your appointment, so contact us as soon as possible.  Ideally this appointment should take place between 12 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.

However, some women with medical conditions, for example diabetes, cardiac disease or epilepsy should be seen as early as possible in one of our specialist clinics. For further information on the specialist clinics available and how to access these services, please see the section on specialist clinics (Chapter 5).  A GP referral letter will help us to assess how quickly you will need to be seen in the specialist clinic.

If you have no major medical or pregnancy related health problems you will probably go to your GP for some of your antenatal care. Antenatal care is known as ‘combined care’ when visits are shared between the hospital and your GP.  You should get the seasonal flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy, when you attend your GP.  The combined care service also gives your baby two scheduled newborn checks with your GP; the first at two weeks after the birth and the second at six weeks after the birth. You can also get a postnatal visit at six weeks after the birth.

There are obstetrician (doctor) led clinics which are suitable for women with a known medical condition, with a history of a previous complicated pregnancy or birth or for women who choose to attend a doctor for their care. Consultant obstetricians work in teams (A – D) and other doctors are assigned to a team of consultants. If antenatal admission is required, you will be under the care of your own team.

There are also midwife led antenatal clinics for healthy pregnant women held every morning and afternoon, Monday to Thursday in the outpatients department. If there are any complications during the pregnancy, your care will be overseen by the medical team.

Care and management during labour and birth is provided by the midwives in the delivery suite with input from the medical team on duty. Induction or caesarean section is scheduled according to clinical need and care is overseen by the team on duty on the day. Care in the postnatal ward is provided by the midwives and the medical team as necessary. Most women go to their GP for their postnatal check-up at six weeks.  We have a special postnatal clinic for women with complications following delivery.

If you wish to make an appointment for any of the public outpatient clinics or require any further information please phone: outpatients department appointments: 01 873 0596 or 873 0632.

Midwives are recognised experts in caring for healthy pregnant women and their babies. The community based midwives work between the Rotunda and the local community. They provide maternity care to normal risk women, who have no history of medical or surgical problems, which might affect their pregnancy. A previous complicated pregnancy or birth may also mean that care cannot be provided by the community midwives.  Antenatal care is provided in the local community.  You will be admitted to the Rotunda for labour and birth. If all is well with you and your baby, you will be able to leave hospital between 6 and 24 hours after the birth. The midwives will continue to care for you and your baby with visits at home for up to a week after the birth.

If complications arise during the pregnancy, the community midwives will link with the obstetricians in the hospital. You will continue to receive the safest option of care depending on your circumstances. This service is offered under the public care options available in the Rotunda.

This service includes:

• Community based midwifery antenatal care in local health centres
• Antenatal parent education, breastfeeding and hypnobirthing classes 
• Discharge from hospital between 6 and 24 hours following birth
• Postnatal care offered up to 7 days after the birth in the home

The community midwifery team runs eight community based antenatal clinics every week, covering the city centre, north county Dublin and Ashbourne for normal risk women.  Women living in Dublin area codes 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 can book directly with the community midwives and can have their first antenatal (booking) visit at home.  Antenatal care will then continue in the community and will be shared with your GP.  All other women who meet the criteria and live in the catchment areas listed have their booking visit in the hospital and are then referred out to the community clinics.  If you are interested in attending the community based clinics, please ask the midwife in the outpatients department at your booking visit if you meet the criteria. 

The community midwifery team offer one day parent education and one day breastfeeding classes, along with hypnobirthing classes which are held over four weeks in the evening time.  These classes aim to give you information, build your confidence and to provide support to you and your partner through the journey of pregnancy to parenthood.

All women are delivered in the hospital.  You will be offered early transfer home within 6 and 24 hours of the birth and care is offered to you and your baby up to 7 days after birth in your home.

For further information on this service or to make an appointment to attend one of these clinics, please phone 01 – 817 6849 between 8.00 am – 4.00 pm, Monday – Friday.

Semi-private care is now fully consultant led for outpatient appointments.  Antenatal care is provided in the Rotunda Private Clinics, which is located on the main Rotunda campus. At each visit you will be seen by a doctor and a midwife. Care is usually shared with your GP. Care during labour and birth is provided by the delivery suite midwives with medical assistance from the on call team as required. After the birth you will be offered accommodation on the Lillie Suite if it is available where the semi-private rooms have three to four beds per room with ensuite bathroom facilities.

For further information on the semi-private care maternity packages available and costs, please see the Rotunda Private Clinics website www.rotundaprivate.ie or contact the semi-private clinic directly by phoning 01 – 874 0992.

Most insurance companies will cover:

• 3 nights for a normal delivery from the time of admission to hospital, inclusive of time in the delivery suite
• 5 nights for a caesarean section from the time of admission to hospital inclusive of any time spent in the delivery suite

Should your baby require admission to the neonatal unit, it will be assumed that you wish your baby to be treated and accommodated on a private basis unless you tell the staff otherwise. Remember to add your new baby to your policy after birth.

You should contact your insurance company before deciding on the care option if you have any concerns about the level of cover they provide. The Rotunda operates a direct payment scheme with the following companies: 

• Vhi Healthcare
• Laya Healthcare
• Irish Life Health
• Garda Medical Aid
• ESB Medical Provident Society
• Prison Officers Medical Aid Society

If you have no health insurance and you are paying for semi-private care, you must pay the charge for 2 nights’ accommodation in advance of your admission for the birth of your baby.  Other fees will also be charged. For further information about the fees and for any other queries, please contact: patient accounts department by phoning 01 – 817 1763 or 817 1764.  Payment of all bills is due in full, on discharge from hospital.

Women booking privately with a consultant obstetrician will have their antenatal care provided in the Rotunda Private Clinics.  You will see, where possible, your consultant at each hospital antenatal visit and combined antenatal care with your GP will be discussed where appropriate. When you are admitted in labour the midwives on the delivery suite will care for you and they will be in regular contact with the consultant. A consultant obstetrician will be available at the time of your baby’s birth or if there are any concerns or complications during labour. Private patients may choose either semi-private accommodation or a private room after the birth.

For further information on the private care option and on the consultant obstetricians offering this service and their fees, please see the Rotunda Private Clinics website www.rotundaprivate.ie or contact the clinic directly by phoning 01 – 874 2115.

Most insurance companies will cover:

• 3 nights for a normal delivery from the time of admission to hospital, inclusive of time in the delivery suite
• 5 nights for a caesarean section from the time of admission to hospital, inclusive of any time spent in the delivery suite

 Note – The Garda Medical Aid, ESB Medical Provident Society and the Prison Officers Medical Aid schemes will only cover the semi-private rate for a private room.

Should your baby require admission to the neonatal unit, it will be assumed that you wish your baby to be treated and accommodated on a private basis unless you tell the staff otherwise. Remember to add your new baby to your policy after birth.

You should contact your insurance company before deciding on the care option if you have any concerns about the level of cover they provide. The Rotunda operates a direct payment scheme with the following companies:

• Vhi Healthcare
• Laya Healthcare
• Irish Life Health
• Garda Medical Aid
• ESB Medical Provident Society
• Prison Officers Medical Aid Society

If you have no health insurance and you are paying for private care, you must pay the charge for 2 nights’ accommodation in advance of your admission for the birth of your baby.  Other fees will also be charged. For further information about the fees and for any other queries, please contact: patient accounts department by phoning 01 – 817 1763 or 817 1764.  Payment of all bills is due in full, on discharge from hospital.