Linda Kelly is a Trade Union Official by day and a long-time women’s rights campaigner, now also the founder of Women Ascend and member of the Better Maternity Care campaign. She gave birth to her second baby during lockdown. Emma Carroll is an environmental scientist and farmer who had her first baby at the start of the pandemic, and since September last year, she also runs In Our Shoes – Covid Pregnancy, which gives a voice to the people affected by the restrictions. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Linda and Emma about their experiences, the ways in which they believe the restrictions in maternity hospitals have been flawed and damaging, the implications of the restrictions on informed consent and maternity mental health, and the lessons the campaign has taught them. There's also a bit of a rallying cry and a first-in-the-air moment at the end, so you can always fast-forward to that for a bit of an activist boost, should you need it! Follow Linda and Women Ascend here, and read the stories of those impacted by the maternity restrictions on the In Our Shoes – Covid Pregnancy page. You can follow Bits of Me on Instagram and on Twitter, and as always, ratings, reviews, shares and recommendations are much appreciated. You can also become a patron of the podcast to help cover the running costs and keep the conversations going. Just go to patreon.com/bitsofme. Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe. #bitsofmepod #maternitycarerestrictions #maternitycare #maternityrestrictions #covidrestrictions #covidbabies #lockdownbabies #lockdownpregnancy #lockdownbirth #birthunderlockdown #maternityhospitals #maternityhospitalrestrictions #birthingpartner #whoseneedsarebeingmet #bettermaternitycare #postnatalcare #antenatalcare #pregnancy #birth #childbirth #pandemicrestrictions #hse #stephendonnelly #womenascend #inourshoes #inhershoes #womenshealth #womensrights #birthrights #informedconsent #activelabour #establishedlabour #consent #motherhood

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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