Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

The NHS is run by misogynists, say women forced to give birth alone

190 replies

MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 13:54

Tory MP Alicia Kearns has been running a campaign to make all NHS trusts change the policies around women giving birth and for pregnancy check ups during Covid. It’s horrific but I didn’t realise it was still ongoing now. This includes women who have lost their babies and have to proceed with the process alone as partners wait outside. I’m so utterly horrified at the inhumane way they are dealing with this. It’s unnecessary. Apparently Boris has backed calls but some trusts are just ignoring women’s requests. I find this so upsetting.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8751493/How-one-pregnant-MP-fighting-stop-trauma-lone-births-caused-Covid-rules.html

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:53

I appreciate not all women feel this way.

I’m glad you said this. Some women are giving birth to babies that have already died, alone.

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:52

I'll just say there are more important issues right now, like actually trying to keep the NHS from being overwhelmed so that women can still give birth with trained staff there to help

I think you’re wrong there. I think single focus on Covid is risking lives elsewhere and I think dismissing women’s concerns over their health being disregarded isn’t very feminist at all. The NHS isn’t close to being overwhelmed, nor was it at the start. We must not forget all the other health issues just because of one virus. More people are dying from non Covid issues now, and the future looks bleak. I think it’s an utter government failure to forget other health issues during this and I’m dismayed to see a lot of the public have the same attitude.

OP posts:
Southernsoftie76 · 20/09/2020 16:51

@alreadytaken agree.

Southernsoftie76 · 20/09/2020 16:51

Honestly I couldn’t have cared less if my partner was there or not when I gave birth, all I wanted was my midwife and a doctor down the corridor ready to come running if there was any complications. My partner was there because he wanted to be not because I wanted him there. If I had another pregnancy I would be quite happy to do scans, appointments and labour by myself. I appreciate not all women feel this way.

PearPickingPorky · 20/09/2020 16:50

I think, too often, women are just seen as easy pickings.

alreadytaken · 20/09/2020 16:49

I've always considered myself a feminist - and I cant express politely what I'd like to say about this. I'll just say there are more important issues right now, like actually trying to keep the NHS from being overwhelmed so that women can still give birth with trained staff there to help.

Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:45

But having a partner there improves outcomes for mother and baby. So I’m not sure it is common sense or that it can’t be worked around. Particularly given that only 307 people under 60 without Pre existing conditions have died from Covid. If the staff can mask up etc how does a partner there put everyone at risk. Women giving birth alone simply isn’t justified to me, or to a lot of trusts who have since changed the policies after the initial restrictions. I note a thread on the increase in still births too.

OP posts:
TheDecencyToChangeTheSheets · 20/09/2020 16:41

Birth Trauma and Prenatal/Post natal care is a feminist issue and is an ongoing issue - absolutely but hospital restrictions are common bloody sense. I say that as someone who has given birth alone.

Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:29

We are talking specifically about pregnancy and birth and why that’s different and that the restrictions are unnecessary and harmful to mother and baby. If you’d like to start a thread comparing all the health issues and how it affects people, feel free to do so on the coronavirus board. The article I posted is worth reading and commenting on.

OP posts:
Getbettersoon · 20/09/2020 16:27

I'm confused, you wanted it to be about misogyny but it's not only women who are affected by the restrictions in hospitals?

Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:20

However, the lack of regard for the needs of pregnant and labouring women is a feminist issue. Pregnancy and childbirth make women hugely vulnerable, and the evidence shows that the support of a partner improves birth outcomes for mothers and babies.

Exactly this. It’s about the actual health of the women and their babies and how this affects outcomes. Women’s health is being disregarded to a large extent, during Covid, a virus that primarily impacts men.

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyMollyFarmer · 20/09/2020 16:19

DH had to go and face his cancer diagnosis, then being told he faced an operation that carried "significant risk of death" alone. Is it so different?

It’s different to actually giving birth or going through a procedure to end a pregnancy alone, yes. But would you mind if we kept the focus to women? Instead of popping in to compare it to a man been given terrible news alone. Thanks.

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 20/09/2020 16:17

I agree that it's not fair for cancer patients either (or for people with other conditions whose treatment has been delayed and who are not allowed to take someone with them to appointments).

However, the lack of regard for the needs of pregnant and labouring women is a feminist issue. Pregnancy and childbirth make women hugely vulnerable, and the evidence shows that the support of a partner improves birth outcomes for mothers and babies.

It is frankly unforgivable that women who have suffered previous losses have been forced to attend scans alone.

Getbettersoon · 20/09/2020 16:00

Lots of people are facing awful things when in desperate situations regarding their health atm. You can either believe it's done to try and keep everyone safe or to be spiteful or to make the hospital's life easier, but I don't think it's just about women.

DH had to go and face his cancer diagnosis, then being told he faced an operation that carried "significant risk of death" alone. Is it so different?

Melroses · 20/09/2020 15:54

It is not like hospitals know when you are going to give birth anyway, IME.

The guidelines have moved on, but many hospitals have not.