The maternity unit in Portlaoise Hospital is the most understaffed unit in the country, according to the INMO.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation carried out a survey of midwives and found that no maternity service has the internationally recommended midwife to birth ratio.
The ratio currently varies from one midwife to 30 births, raising to 55 births in some units.
The internationally recognised ratio is one to 29.5.
Last week a report into the death of 4 babies at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise found that maternity care wasn't safe or sustainable.
The Health Minister is today facing heated questioning over the report in front of the Oireachtas health committee with several deputies calling for the Minister to account for the impact of staff cuts.
James Reilly says cutbacks cannot explain the "unacceptable" culture at the Portlaoise Hospital:
