The Coombe Hospital, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Dolphin's Barn Street, Dublin 8, Crumlin (2026)

23/02/2026

Looking for practical advice and guidance on gentle exercises to support your physical recovery? Why not join our postnatal physio class which takes place online every second Friday at 11am.

If you've recently welcomed a little one at The Coombe and would like to join us, email physio@coombe.ie and include the following details:

- Your Name
- Hospital Number
- Date of Delivery

20/02/2026

We’re delighted to share that our website www.coombe.ie was recognised at the National Digital Awards last night. The site was created by Urban Brand Creative who won gold in the ‘Most Trusted Website’ category and the overall ‘National Website of the Year’ award for their work on our website. A huge thank you to the Urban Brand Creative team for their vision, creativity and hard work in bringing our website to life. We’re very proud to see their work, and our website, recognised at a national level. ⭐

“When we were tasked by The Coombe with this project, the brief was clear. Patrick Donohue and the team wanted to reposition the hospital from being seen primarily as a maternity hospital to a full-service women’s health institution — and they made it clear that the website would be central to that evolution. They gave us clarity, trust and real latitude — and they represent the very best kind of client for Urban Brand Creative. This award belongs as much to them as it does to us. This project was also partially supported through the Teach Ruadh Foundation, which Sinead and I established in memory of our son, Ruadh – so this one is for Ruadh.” Keith Bradshaw, Founder and Lead Strategist at Urban Brand Creative

18/02/2026

⛳ Friends of the Coombe Golf Classic

Thursday 14th May 2026

Join us for a fantastic day of golf at Palmerstown House Estate.

🏌️ We’re looking for:
• Teams to take part
• Businesses to sponsor a hole
• Spot prizes/raffle items

Event Details:
• 11am: Registration
• 1pm: Shot gun start
• 6pm: BBQ, prizes & raffle

All funds raised will be donated to Friends of the Coombe, supporting the care of women and newborns at The Coombe Hospital.

Register/find out more: coombegolfclassic@coombe.ie

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16/02/2026

Our next phase of postnatal education classes begin from w/c 23rd February. The sessions will be led by our Postnatal Hub midwives and women’s health physio. Topics covered will include maternal wellbeing, baby care, feeding, exercise and pelvic floor health. Suitable for Mums and babies from 1-6 weeks and available across our five locations. It’s a fantastic way to meet other Mums in your area too! Book your place today by emailing postnatalhub@coombe.ie

11/02/2026

Help Us Mark 200 Years of The Coombe Hospital!

As part of our bicentenary celebrations, we’re gathering inspirational Coombe stories to share throughout the year.

Were you – or your family – part of something special at The Coombe Hospital?

For example....

⭐ Multiple generations born or working here
⭐ An extraordinary birth journey
⭐A moment of resilience, courage or care you’ll never forget

If The Coombe Hospital played a truly memorable role in your story, we’d love to hear from you!

Please get in touch with Jamie on jgood@coombe.ie

***Please note, due to the volume of responses, we may not be able to feature every story – but we would still love to hear from you!***

09/02/2026

Our midwifery students take part in clinical skills sessions once a week while they are on placement with us. Last week, they practised taking bloods and inserting IV cannulas using our very accommodating phlebotomy ‘training arm’!

06/02/2026

We believe that everyday excellence should be recognised – to take time to acknowledge it, and importantly – to learn from it.

We were delighted to recognise colleagues from across the hospital recently as part of our Learning from Excellence initiative, which acknowledges and celebrates staff who go above and beyond in their day-to-day work.

Learning from Excellence is closely aligned with our hospital values, with colleagues nominated by their peers for episodes of behaviour that demonstrate excellence, reflect our values, and contribute to advancing healthcare.

Congratulations to everyone recognised, and thank you for the positive impact you are having with our patients, our colleagues and the wider hospital community!👏

04/02/2026

If risk factors for gestational diabetes are noted at your booking appointment, or at any subsequent routine appointments, we will refer you to our Perinatal Centre for an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test). Here’s what you need to know!

Risk factors include:
- If you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, you will be tested at 16 weeks. If negative, another test will happen between 24-28 weeks.
- Other factors might include:
- BMI of 30 or more.
- Age 40+
- Close family member with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- Previous baby weighing 4.5kg or more.
- History of PCOS.

Preparing for the OGTT:
Make sure to fast for 12 hours before your first blood test. That means no eating or drinking from midnight the night before, right up until you get the glucose drink. You need to avoid chewing gum until after the test is complete. If you are taking any medication, chat with your midwife beforehand.

What to expect during the OGTT:
The test involves three blood draws before and after you drink the glucose.
1. First blood test for baseline glucose.
2. You will be asked to drink a glucose drink.
3. One hour later, another blood test.
4. After another hour, the final blood test.

Please stay in the hospital during the test.

What if my test is positive?
If diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you'll receive extra support and monitoring until your baby arrives from our multidisciplinary diabetes team.

After baby is born:
Don’t forget to schedule another OGTT with your GP during your 6-week check-up to make sure your blood sugars have returned to normal levels.

02/02/2026

Here at The Coombe Hospital, we are dedicated to working as a multidisciplinary team and continuously improving our skills to provide the safest care for women and newborns.

Pictured are some of our wonderful team taking part in recent PROMPT (Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training) sessions. These sessions focus on enhancing our skills and confidence in managing emergencies effectively with lots of teamwork, communication, and hands-on learning through simulations and practical skills stations.

30/01/2026

Breastfeeding is a learned skill, for you and your baby. It takes time, commitment, patience and practice! Some common challenges in the early
days include:

A sleepy baby
If you had a long labour or were taking a lot of pain medication, your baby may just be recovering. However, it is important to wake your baby regularly and try to encourage them to feed.

Engorged breasts
Engorgement is uncomfortable swelling of the breasts whereby they feel hot, tight and firm. It’s common in the early days as your body works out how much milk your baby needs. Try warm compresses, light massage and hand expression.

Sore or cracked ni***es
Breastfeeding should not be painful. If it is, it’s often due to an incorrect latch. Don’t be afraid to adjust the latch or take your baby off and try again.
- Go back to basics: skin to skin, tummy to mummy, chin to breast, wide open mouth, bring baby to breast, and make sure your baby has a big portion of the breast in their mouth.
- If your ni***es are cracked and bleeding, it's best to rest them and express to maintain supply for 24-48hrs.

Cluster feeding
This is when your baby looks for lots of feeds close together and is very common in the first few weeks, especially in the evenings. Your baby’s tummy is small and their nutritional requirements are increasing. It can be very tiring, so it’s important to have support and plenty of drinks and snacks nearby. It’s particularly common on Night 2/3 as your milk comes in.

Mastitis
Mastitis is inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection. It can be caused by a blocked duct, bacteria entering the ni**le, long periods without feeding, ineffective milk removal or an infection in another part of your body e.g. a sore throat. Symptoms include pain, soreness in one breast or a painful lump that may hot to the touch, a red wedge-shaped area on the breast and/or flu-like symptoms.

Take a painkiller and drink plenty of fluids. Use warm compresses and massage the area gently. Feed on the sore side as your baby is most effective at emptying your breast. If symptoms continue after 24hrs, call your GP, you may need antibiotics.

28/01/2026

A good latch helps your baby get enough milk, and ensures a comfortable experience for you.

While some tenderness and sensitivity are common in the early days, if you are finding breastfeeding painful, it’s often because the baby isn’t latched on properly.

Before you start:
- Make sure you are comfortable, perhaps with pillows to support you and/or your baby
- Have a drink – and maybe a snack - within easy reach
- Take pain relief if you are feeling pain or discomfort after your labour/birth

Latching your baby:
Some mothers like to hold their breast to help their baby latch on, but be careful not to cover the lower part of the ar**la as baby’s chin needs to rest there.
- Tummy to mummy - hold your baby close, tummy to you, supporting their back
- Chin to skin – your baby’s chin should be against your breast and their nose opposite your ni**le
- Wide open mouth - hand expressing a few drops of colostrum or milk can encourage your baby to open their mouth widely
- Bring baby to breast - wait until your baby’s mouth is open wide, before bringing baby to breast, aiming your ni**le towards the roof of their mouth

Your baby should be able to get a good portion of the breast into their mouth – not just the protruding part of the ni**le. The latch needs to be deep so they can draw the milk down from the breast.

When your baby’s chin is against your breast, their nose should be clear to breathe. If you’re worried, tuck their bottom right in and this will allow their head to tilt back.

If you are uncomfortable, adjust the latch, or take the baby off and try again. The deeper the latch, the more comfortable it will be for you.

Your baby’s cheeks should be round and full, and they should be actively sucking and swallowing.

Allow your baby to feed for as long as they want. They may fall asleep at the breast, or come off when they are satisfied.

Find out more at www.coombe.ie/breastfeeding

The Coombe Hospital

23/02/2026

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