The Psychological Society of Ireland has expressed concern about the implications of continued maternity restrictions on parents and infants during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said that the exclusion of partners and support persons from maternity service have been highlighted as a cause of increasing distress among pregnant women, fathers, partners, and families.
The PSI said that while restrictions have been eased across some hospitals, they continue to remain across many hospitals in Ireland.
It added that women who have experienced acute trauma or perinatal loss during a previous birth are disproportionately negatively affected by these ongoing restrictions.