A woman who gave birth to her first child a week after her own mother's death has described the Covid-19 maternity restrictions in Ireland as "astounding" and "absolutely shameful".
Sarah McGinn, who welcomed her daughter Annie seven months ago, said the treatment of pregnant women throughout the pandemic has been "barbaric".
She and many others are calling for an end to restrictions in maternity hospitals that prevent partners from attending scans and appointments.
Protests organised by AIMS Ireland are taking place at four hospitals across the country today as part of the #WhoseNeedsAreBeingMet campaign to remove the measures.
It comes after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that there should be no limits on visitation at maternity hospitals for partners unless there are local concerns over Covid-19.
Ms McGinn said new parents are bringing a child into the world together and that partners shouldn't be seen as visitors, rather they should be part of the journey.
When she was six months pregnant, her mother was given a year to live and she became so "consumed with grief" that it "took her breath away".
She described the thought of having to give birth for the first time alone and without her husband as "terrifying", adding that every hospital appointment was "horrendous".
"At 37 weeks I asked for a C-section. Things were going rapidly downhill with Mum and I needed things to get moving," she wrote in a poignant Instagram post.
"I explained over and over again that I couldn't prepare for labouring alone whilst also preparing for my Mum's death, it was just too much, but they continued to say there was nothing they could do.
"My Mum died on the 10th of October. On the 16th I had my final appointment, where I could barely speak through my tears to the doctor.
"Then and only then did they say they could try make arrangements for my husband to be with me so I wouldn't be alone, but there could be no guarantees."
It was thanks to a midwife that Sarah could give birth in a private room with her husband present, and despite being one of the "lucky ones", she doesn't know how the "trauma" will affect her in years to come.
Speaking to The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk today, Sarah said that while her daughter's birth was a joyous occasion it was also "tinged with sadness".
"[Annie] would never get to meet the greatest person in my life, and my mother would never get to meet the daughter she so wanted me to have," she said.
Sarah decided to share her story because she "couldn't believe" that 14 months into the pandemic, families were still experiencing restrictions similar to what she had.
She said the lack of clear guidelines are "shocking and shameful" with women in Ireland "being treated as second-class citizens".
“I feel in such a short space of time, my mother, myself and my daughter were forgotten about, when we were supposed to be minded by the structures that are in place to mind the most vulnerable of our nation," she said.
"It just wasn't there, that care and support.
“I understand people are excited with everything opening up… but how in all this time has maternity not been a top priority for our government and our health structures?
"It’s astounding, shocking and absolutely shameful.
“It’s the most incredible, magical and terrifying experience of your life. Why anyone should have to do that alone is just astounding.”
