#Repeal4BetterBirth

Midwives for Choice

Our campaign #Repeal4BetterBirth is about raising awareness of the impact of the 8th Amendment on all women in pregnancy, labour and birth.

Some 60,000 women give birth in Ireland every year. Equalising the rights of the unborn with those of the mother, the 8^th Amendment discriminates against pregnant women as the only group of adults in Ireland whose rights to autonomy, self-determination and informed decision-making about their care and treatment are routinely undermined in healthcare settings.

Through our professional voice, Midwives for Choice brings awareness to women’s experience of involuntary medical intervention during pregnancy and childbirth, and educates the public on human rights and informed consent to medical care and treatment. We also assist and support women who are coerced by laws and policies emanating from the 8th Amendment.

It is by means of the 8^th Amendment that the HSE was able to take 'Mother B', whose testimony is featured in this video, to court on the eve of giving birth, for exercising her right to informed consent, in an attempt to compel her by force to have a Caesarean-section against her wishes.

As a recent anonymous survey conducted by Midwives for Choice revealed, the impacts of the 8th are borne out across the spectrum of experience during pregnancy and childbirth, from extreme incidences such as threatened or actual court action, to compelling women to comply with various interventions against their wishes, or without their meaningful consent - common examples being the breaking of their waters and having their labour artificially induced or accelerated.

Our funding drive aims to provide for the printing and distribution of up to 60,000 educational leaflets on the impacts of the 8th on pregnancy and childbirth, to be distributed across the major regions of Ireland - one for every woman who gives birth in Ireland annually.

Funds will also contribute to a social media information campaign on Facebook and Instagram targeting key demographics.

Please help make our education drive possible - we are grateful for all contributions.

Midwives for Choice is a voluntary association and is compliant with the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charity Organisations in Ireland, and the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising http://midwivesforchoice.ie/about/. We welcome your feedback on how we measure up to your expectations.