As of March 2025, all hospitals providing maternity services in Ireland are now providing termination services.

However, not all hospitals have the resources or expertise to diagnose foetal anomalies and provide TFMR. If you are in a regional hospital, you may be sent to Dublin, Cork or to whichever hospital is suitable for your needs. Your care may be split between the hospitals depending on your needs and wishes.

What to expect

You should be linked in with your bereavement midwives (who may also be foetal medicine midwives). The doctors should have explained the procedure to you in a way you understand. If you have questions, contact the foetal medicine team before you go for TFMR.

On the day of the procedure, you and your partner/friend/relative will check in to the hospital.

After the termination procedure, you may be sent home and return to hospital in 1-2 days for induced labour.

Meals will be provided for you and your partner and there will be a spare bed/chair for them to stay with you overnight.

When your baby is born, you can stay in the hospital with them or may be able to take them home. If you are planning to take them home, let the midwives know as soon as possible in case they need to arrange anything for you in the house.

Handprints/footprints in molds or on paper will be taken if at all possible. Your midwife will help you wash and dress your baby.

Funeral arrangements may be discussed before or after the procedure.

For information on individual hospitals, see the list below

The feedback was given to us by parents, so we do not have info on all hospitals. Only information offered to us by parents on their experiences is detailed below.

If you had an experience you want to share or to add info on another hospital, please email lmcbereavement@gmail.com as we would love to share information with parents who are reading this in advance of TFMR. We want every parent to be as prepared as can be and make this experience as easy as possible

Types of Procedures

ARC Antenatel Results and Choices have a good overview on the types of procedures depending on the stage in the pregnancy

https://www.arc-uk.org/for-parents/ending-a-pregnancy

Bereavement care is provided by foetal medicine midwives, who will visit you multiple times while you are in hospital.
On arrival for the procedure, you may have to queue with other women who are going for induced labour. You should then be brought to a separate waiting room. There is a pull out couch for your partner or friend to stay with you at night and meals are provided for both of you. The medical team is very thorough.
After loss:
Funeral arrangements are facilitated by the hospital and there is no fee
What mams said:
Midwives were amazing
Queuing with women awaiting induction was upsetting, but the doctor was expecting them and they were removed from the queue quickly
There wasn’t much info given on what happens regarding labour and delivery, and what happens to the baby after they are born. Ask this question if you attend
You might hear other women in labour from your delivery room. If you are reading this beforehand, talk to your midwife or bring something that might help with this like headphones or a speaker
Bereavement care is provided by the foetal medicine midwives.
On arrival, you will have to check in at the ultrasound/foetal medicine desk. This means mingling with women who have healthy pregnancies and are going for routine scans. After the procedure you can go home and come back for labour in a day or two. Before returning, call and ask if your bed is ready.
You will most likely deliver your baby in the labour ward. You might hear other women in labour. You will be moved to a bereavement room after.
There are 3 bereavement rooms annexed off a general ward, so you will hear other mams and their babies…if you are reading this in advance, bring some earplugs or headphones.
There is no second bed so your partner or friend will have to sleep in a chair. Meals will be provided for both of you.
After loss:
Funeral arrangements are facilitated by the hospital and there is no fee.
You will have to leave through the main hospital entrance which may be very upsetting.
What mams said:
Staff were great but at times they felt they could have been checked on a bit more
Social work can be very hard to get through to or slow to contact you. Make sure you speak to social work before you have your procedure. Ask the foetal medicine midwives if you need help getting through
The staff can make you feel rushed or offer you a date for the procedure on a couple of days notice. Unless you have been told otherwise, there is no rush. Talk to the foetal medicine midwives if you feel under pressure
You will may be referred to Rotunda after your anomaly scan for specialist input. The first phase of termination is done in the Rotunda. You will return to Cavan General about 2 days later for induction.
On arrival, you should be received in the Quiet Room. You will deliver your baby in the labour ward and then move to a bereavement room on the general maternity ward. This room has a couch that functions as a spare bed. It has an ensuite bathroom & shower.
There is only one bereavement room on the maternity ward. While it is not opposite or backed onto by any other rooms, it is at the far end of the ward. This means you will pass by all rooms with women and babies on your way to the room. You may also hear babies crying if the door is open and you will see mothers and babies if you go for a walk on the ward.
You can stay with your baby as long as you like in the room.
Funeral arrangements are not organised by the hospital, but they will give you some information on who to contact depending on your wishes. You must cover the cost yourself. Cremation in Cavan crematorium is approximately €250
There is a dedicated bereavement nurse/midwife. However they can be slow to refer in the hospital. Ask to see the bereavement nurse when you arrive.
Cavan hospital has a partnership with Teach Oscail Family Resource Centre in Cavan Town. If the bereavement nurse refers you, you can get free in-person counselling.
What mams said:
Midwives were amazing and very supportive
There was poor communication and poor follow-up in Cavan. Appointments were not timely and not communicated well