Guidelines for the Care of Women with Concealed Pregnancy Launched at Portiuncula Hospital
This afternoon (Friday 22nd May), the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and HSE West launched a new set of guidelines to assist health professionals in the care of women who conceal their pregnancy. The guidelines are designed to provide a protocol for health care staff working in maternity settings and assist them in recognising and responding to the individual needs of women who present after concealing their pregnancy.
The guidelines follow the publication of a report “Concealed Pregnancy: A Case Study in an Irish Setting” by the Agency and the HSE West in 2006. The report, authored by Catherine Conlon, social researcher at the Women’s Education, Research and Resource Centre (WERRC), UCD, estimated that 1 in every 403 births in a rural maternity hospital was concealed compared with 1 in every 625 births at a Dublin maternity hospital, suggesting a higher incidence in rural communities.
The guidelines were developed following a series of recommendations set out in the concealed pregnancy research report. Social workers in the HSE West, working on the ground with women who conceal their pregnancies, played an important role conducting preliminary work and steering the guideline development process. An extensive consultation process was facilitated by Catherine Conlon. Catherine engaged with a wide range of professionals including social workers, midwives, nurses, nurse managers, obstetricians, antenatal educators and pediatricians to ensure the guidelines can be practically applied in a variety of maternity care settings. The guidelines have been divided into sections with tailored information for midwifery, social work, obstetrics, pediatrics, antenatal and administration departments at maternity hospitals. The guidelines will be distributed to health professionals throughout 2009.
Speaking at the launch in Portiuncula Hospital, Catherine Conlon, author of the guidelines said: “A primary objective of the research reported in 2006 was to generate recommendations to guide and inform the responsiveness of services to the specific needs of women concealing pregnancy. The guidelines are intended to enhance the capacity of caregivers to recognise, respond appropriately to and have understanding and empathy for women who present concealing pregnancy. The intention of the guidelines is to incorporate concealed pregnancy into current services, systems and structures rather than proposing any new or additional elements to optimise efficiency and mainstream the care of women concealing pregnancy.”
Katharine Bulbulia, Chair, Crisis Pregnancy Agency, added: “Concealed pregnancy has wide-ranging implications for the woman, her social network and the professional services she comes into contact with. These guidelines are the result of a collaborative partnership between the Agency, the HSE West and a range of health professionals. They will enable health professionals in maternity settings to standardise responses to women and assist health and support services in delivering the best care to women. While instances of concealed pregnancy are not very common, the possible negative physical and psychological outcomes make it imperative that the best possible support and care is given to women who are in this situation.”
Marie Finn, Crisis Pregnancy Counsellor at Portiuncula Hospital added: “I welcome the launch of the new guidelines. From a practitioner’s perspective, these guidelines will further work towards ensuring a sensitive and tailored response in the form of a care pathway to any women who presents with a concealed pregnancy.”
Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Agency spoke of the Agency’s work in addressing the many issues associated with crisis pregnancy: “The circumstances surrounding each crisis pregnancy are unique, and the concealment of pregnancy is one of many possible reactions a woman may have. The Agency’s “Positive Options” campaign raises awareness of State-funded crisis pregnancy counselling which is available at 50 centres nationwide offering free, non-judgemental support to help the woman to address her feelings surrounding the pregnancy.”
To order a copy of the Guidelines, contact the Crisis Pregnancy Agency on 01 814 6292 or email info@crisispregnancy.ie.
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Photo Details
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At the launch of Guidelines for the care of women with concealed pregnancy at Portiuncula Hospital on Friday May 22nd, Back Row: Marie Kelly, Senior Executive Officer, Portiuncula Hospital; Bridgetta McHugh, General Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Catherine Conlon, Guest Speaker; Fergus Hannon, Patient Services Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Caroline Dolan, Divisional Nurse Manager, Portiuncula Hospital; Mary Hoey, Ante-Natal Educator, Portiuncula Hospital; Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Agency; Katharine Bulbulia, Chair, Crisis Pregnancy Agency. Front Row, Portiuncula Hospital staff: Sarah McMickan, Director of Nursing; Aileen Mulvihill, Maternity Social Worker; Marie Finn, Crisis Pregnancy Counsellor; and Clare O’Connell, Clinical Nurse Manager 2.
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Back Row: Katharine Bulbulia, Chair, Crisis Pregnancy Agency; Catherine Conlon, Guest Speaker; and Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Agency. Front Row: Seamus Moran, Principal Social Worker, Mayo General Hospital; Caroline McInerney-Layng, Principal Social Worker; Portiuncula Hospital; Eilish McDonnell, Principal Social Worker, Rotunda Hospital; Sheila Lawlor, Principal Social Worker; Galway University Hospitals; and Loretta Reilly, Principal Social Worker, The National Maternity Hospital.
For further information please contact:
Lorna Farren
Programmes and Communications Officer
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
01-814 6292/ 087 6289831
Aoife Morrissy
National Communications Unit
HSE West
091 775474
Editor’s Notes:
1. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) was established in 2001 and is mandated to provide for:
A) A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services
B) A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and support which make other options more attractive
C) The provision of counselling services, medical services and other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy, as may be deemed appropriate by the Agency.
2. Concealed Pregnancy Definitions
Concealed pregnancy is defined as a situation where a woman presents for antenatal care past twenty weeks gestation without having disclosed the pregnancy to her social network or having received any antenatal care.
Conscious denial: A woman recognises she is pregnant but continues to deny it to herself and others.
Concealment of Pregnancy: A woman acknowledges the pregnancy to herself but hides it from others. In these cases, women adapt to the pregnancy, but hide it from their social network.
Unconscious denial: A woman is not aware she is pregnant, and in some occasions women can have a totally unexpected sudden delivery.
3. About the Author
Catherine Conlon is a social researcher at the Women’s Education, Research and Resource Centre (WERRC), UCD. She is currently pursuing a PhD on the topic of concealed pregnancy.
4. For Crisis Pregnancy Counselling
For a list of services offering free, non-judgemental crisis pregnancy counselling, members of the public can freetext the word LIST to 50444 or visit positiveoptions.ie.
