Victoria Hambsch

Bábóg

Level 8

Through my design research practice, I identified that lack of knowledge, lack of availability of community midwives and access to information are key barriers for expecting parents to access a home birth. My research highlighted the need to adequately, and transparently inform, support, and empower pregnant women about their birthing options. I observed that new parents in Ireland are renting inadequate and expensive short-term housing.

Victoria Hambsch

BA(hons) in Creative Design

2023

Bábóg

Not every expectant parent in Ireland is able to use the HSE Home Birth Service because a significant number of locations across the island are not covered. Due to a limitation in adequate and equitable government funding and staff allocation, no self-employed community midwife (SECM) is available. This indicates a barrier and disadvantage based on geographical location to an essential health service for many individuals and families.
My design solution, Bábóg is a social enterprise platform which connects expecting parents who live in an area which is not covered by the HSE under the national home birth strategy with hosts that can offer appropriate short-term accommodation to support them on their journey to a successful and peaceful home birth.

Victoria Hambsch

BA(hons) in Creative Design