Senator Eileen Flynn has announced to the Seanad that she is pregnant and due her second baby in September.
Ms Flynn is already mother to her one year old daughter, Billie.
While addressing the issue that some maternity hospitals are still restricting partners from being with pregnant women, Ms Flynn shared her own news.
Speaking to the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Ms Flynn said: “Also leader, as a woman who is pregnant herself and due my baby in September, not having the supports and knowing from women on the ground over the last year, begging the Department of Health for them to have a partner with them..it is a rollercoaster of a journey for any pregnant person.”
Ms Flynn said it should not be one set of rules for one hospital and it needed to change.
Her comments come after the HSE's Director of Women and Infant Health, Dr Peter McKenna said earlier this week that maternity hospitals could hopefully examine the matter and become “more liberal” on visiting restrictions given the Covid-19 community rate is falling.
Ms Flynn added: “Why is your partner allowed in with you for example, in one hospital but not in another?
“It needs to change, it needs to change for women.
“But also when we talk of gender equality, the man should also have equal access to see their child and be a part of that journey as equally as the woman.
“So I’d like to stress that today.”
