Calls for expanded use of mobile epidural in childbirth, with Coombe only maternity unit offering it in Ireland

Midwife Mariapia Dado has called for the expanded use of mobile epidurals during childbirth in Ireland, following her relocation from Rome to Dublin where she was surprised to find the procedure largely unavailable. Currently, the Coombe maternity unit is the only hospital in Ireland offering the mobile epidural option to women during labor.

The procedure allows mothers to retain movement and mobility during childbirth, unlike traditional epidurals which typically leave patients bedbound. The lack of widespread availability across Irish maternity hospitals has highlighted disparities in maternal care options compared to other European jurisdictions.