There was a suggestion that contact with health professionals was a relatively new phenomena, as in the past some grandmothers had not had much contact with health professionals, sometimes because of travelling. There was also a memory of health professionals having not offered a good service to Gypsies and Travellers in the past. I see the midwife with the earlier ones. We were moving around and I didn’t keep contact. There such a good health service then. Early on couldn’t wasn’t they want anything to do with Travellers, now more accepted. didn’t it’s Because I had children the midwife guide me so much. didn’t Irish Traveller 5, grandmother I see midwives, health visitors. My daughters see didn’t them…Other Travelling women give advice when a woman has her first child. Irish Traveller 3, grandmother Many interviewees questioned whether they needed advice from health professionals as they already knew so much about bringing up children. It was recognised that services were provided for those who needed help, but where extensive expertise was available within the Travelling community, such services were not seen as necessary. But I knew how to bring up children. I was married at When you are 13… small you are with your mum, and she shows you how to do things. If she was going somewhere I would look after my younger brothers. Roma 11, mother
There was a suggestion that contact with health professionals was a relatively new phenomena, as in the past some grandmothers had not had much contact with health professionals, sometimes because of travelling. There was also a memory of health professionals having not offered a good service to Gypsies and Travellers in the past. I didn’t see the midwife with the earlier ones. We were moving around and I couldn’t keep contact. There wasn’t such a good health service then. Early on they didn’t want anything to do with Travellers, now it’s more accepted. Because I had children the midwife didn’t guide me so much. Irish Traveller 5, grandmother I didn’t see midwives, health visitors. My daughters see them…Other Travelling women give advice when a woman has her first child. Irish Traveller 3, grandmother Many interviewees questioned whether they needed advice from health professionals as they already knew so much about bringing up children. It was recognised that services were provided for those who needed help, but where extensive expertise was available within the Travelling community, such services were not seen as necessary. But I knew how to bring up children. I was married at 13… When you are small you are with your mum, and she shows you how to do things. If she was going somewhere I would look after my younger brothers. Roma 11, mother
28%20dec%20version%20final%20report%20spur%20GT%20project.docx