When a baby is ready to come into the world, there's no stopping them. They don't care about status red weather warnings! Thankfully, there are dedicated medical professionals at the ready to help those who are becoming parents during Storm Emma.

 

As of yesterday morning, 52 babies had been delivered at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) in Dublin during the last 48 hours.

 

Dr Rhona Mahony, master of NMH Holles Street, told Ryan Tubridy that one of these 52 babies was, in fact, named Emma after the storm.

 

As well, 30 babies had been delivered in a 23 hours period at the Rotunda Hospital, but no little Emmas, a spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

 

The Rotunda's medical staff have so committed themselves to helping others that some had not seen their families in three days.

 

 

"Many staff have worked over the last three nights and have not been home to their own families, which is reflective of the dedication of Rotunda Hospital staff who have acted above the norm to ensure the continued provision of safe maternity services for our patients," the hospital's spokesperson said.

 

Babes have been born all over Ireland as Storm Emma rages on. At Cork University Maternity Hospital, 27 babies were delivered on Wednesday, and another 24 arrived on Thursday.

 

Staff at the NMH and hospitals around the country have stayed in hotels nearby in order to be able to work their shifts.

 

Dr Mahony told the Irish Independent of the generous people lending a helping hand: "It's been amazing, particularly in the last 24 hours patients have arrived in by ambulance. We've had some contributions from the army as well, so it's been extraordinary."

 

 

She noted that some staff walked two hours in the cold in order to get to work and a group of midwives have stayed since arriving last Tuesday.

 

"Staff are extraordinary. It's just the effort that people have gone to, thinking ahead, and the thoughtfulness, and everyone helping out," Dr Mahony added.

 

"The big issue today is really getting people in to hospital who need to be here," she told the Irish Independent yesterday.

 

"We know that there are patients out there at the moment having great difficulty getting to hospital, and there are a couple of mothers in labour who are stranded and in a high-risk position, and trying to determine if we can move people out or get people in, so it's still tricky."

 

Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery at the NMH, praised the staff's dedication, saying, "We're really grateful for every one of our staff who's been doing everything they can to get in today. People who are on the night shift tonight have already come in to stay so they can be here tonight."

 

 

"We're really proud of our team, from the porters to the doctors to the midwives. Everyone is working so hard."

 

The Rotunda's spokesperson also spoke highly of their staff's efforts, noting, “The Rotunda Hospital has remained fully operational for maternity services over the duration of the storm. In a 23 hour period  (Thursday-Friday) there were 30 babies delivered.

 

"All Rotunda Hospital maternity services have been operating as normal to a high standard of quality care."

 

"This was only made possible through the excellent dedication and diligence of Rotunda Hospital staff across all disciplines, who have made themselves available to work despite the many challenges posed by extreme weather conditions."

 

We commend those who have devoted themselves to helping mums-to-be in these adverse weather conditions.

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