Women giving birth to children outside marriage have been advised against registering the birth while they are in a maternity hospital because of new regulations.
These mean a surname must be chosen for the child at the time of registration, and this can never be changed on the Births Register, according to the voluntary group Treoir.
The group represents organisations which provide services for unmarried parents and their children.
If a mother is not married to the father of her child, his surname cannot be registered as the child's in a hospital.
If the mother is unsure as to which name to give the child, or wants to use the father's surname, she should postpone registration until after she leaves hospital, says Treoir.
The new regulations apply to births registered after October 1st last, and Treoir is critical of the provision that a surname must be chosen for the child at the time of registration and that this can never be changed.
The situation of many unmarried parents changes over time, Treoir says in its latest newsletter. "Some plan to marry but, as plans change, the marriage does not take place. Other parents have no plans to marry when their baby is born, but in later years do marry."
As one way out of the dilemma it suggests registering a double-barrelled surname, "then one or the other can fall into disuse over time".