To think it's not ok to make women give birth alone?

[WhoToTell]

A hospital system in New York is now not letting women in labour have their partner or support person present. This seems absolutely cruel and goes against WHO recommendations. AIBU to think that this is not OK? There is no way I would feel safe and comfortable giving birth with only complete strangers around and no one to advocate for me if I was unable to.

edition.cnn.com/2020/03/22/health/coronavirus-new-york-hospital-childbirth-no-visitors/index.html

With respect OP, get a grip

You have the internet and you have YouTube. You can learn everything you need too on the www.

Honestly, people are literally dying. Thousands are dying and will die. Having to give birth without your spouse and no classes is nothing compared to that.
Be grateful!

Viral load means the more people with the virus you are exposed to, the more ill you will be. This will be to protect staff.

They are not giving birth alone. They will have experienced professionals, nearby during early labour and with them during the birth, that will be sensitive to the circumstances. We must reduce the risk of medical staff contracting this virus as much as possible and this is a sensible precaution.

tbh I barely noticed dh when I was in labour other than he irritated the fuck out of me by constantly asking what he could do or if I needed anything.

My first was long and traumatic, ending in an EMCS. If I had had a second, it would not have been a huge concern doing it without a partner in these current circumstances.

Desperate measures call for drastic action.
it's a shame, but we have to do what we can to stop more deaths.

Desperate measures call for drastic action.
it's a shame, but we have to do what we can to stop more deaths

This is a fair. Implying it isn’t a big deal and doesn’t really matter is not.

I'm due at the end of June and this is my biggest fear. I'm so scared of being on my own with no support.

I feel like that is overkill. I understand the logic behind it but no dad should be deprived of the right to see their child born and no mother should have to go through it alone.

Lots of things are going to seem unpalatable but the reality is half as many people in the hospital half as many x the risk of passing it onto staff and patients.

I am sure they will manage it is only resent history where partners came in anyway and I don't remember any issues with my mum or aunties about this.

Op, we need drastic measures. I know right now it's scary but I found that when I was in labour instinct took over and I didn't need my husband, I just needed a professional to check the baby over. Plenty of women, myself included, have never attended classes or had previous experience. The truth is nothing can really prepare you and once baby is here you just do your best by your individual baby.

I've posted about this on another thread. I am due in July. I am terrified my husband might not be there.
Last time, it was only the fact that he left the room and found the consulate and registrar that meant I was given proper care. The midwife was shocking. She refused to get the doctor, even though I was begging her and just kept telling me to push...even when I was telling her nothing was happening.
My epidural failed. I was being induced and I had to have a spinal. It wore off as she turned up the drip and the anaesthetist wasn't available to come back.
It turned out the baby was transverse so no hope of unassisted birth. When the Dr came in, she made out that I had been refusing to be examined by them!
I got rushed to theatre. They managed to get the baby out after ventouse and forceps. I then haemorrhaged. It was bloody terrifying. It was only Dec 2018 so I recall it well. I believe my husband saved our lives.

getthesprinkles - no one is being left alone.

This is a completely unprecedented situation. People are losing their lives to this. Women give birth alone every day. We have to do what we can to minimise risks and protect people, including newborns!

The argument that if mum has it...dad will too...fine but without dad there that is one less infectious person spreading it around.

You're halving the risk of infectious people spreading it around

YABVVU

Who to tell, you sound unnecessarily dramatic!! As you have found Mumsnet I assume you understand the internet and can read so go off and do some research because you are in for a whole lot is shock when you give birth because covid or not, you wing it from day one as a parent .

The responses on this thread are unhelpful. Telling pregnant women that a birth partner is a luxury when she might be terrified about giving birth for the first time doesn't help anyone.

We are all very aware that this is a crisis but pregnant women feeling very worried about this is valid.

Any pregnant women out there- there has been no indication whatsoever so far that this is being considered in the UK, as long as your birth partner doesn't have any symptoms they are still being supported to attend.

I had second and third babies alone without DH due to complications with childcare, it sounds scary but it was really ok. I mean it is not ideal but if it comes down to it, it is surprisingly tolerable, so I would advise anyone in that situation to try not to owrry. Hopefully it won't get to that situation here as well.

Not to scare you all but that's already happening in France and Spain. Some maternity clinics are not allowing birth partners not even during birth.

Giving birth alone at home would be dangerous. Please do not do that OP.

I think the negative part of positive birth movements is the inclusion of others in the birth process. Strip it back, the most important people are the woman and the baby, then someone very experienced in childbirth and preferably Medically trained. it doesn’t have to be a “beautiful “ experience, you can have that post delivery when you and your family bond xxx it’s more important for it to be safe. I’m an older mum to be, and one thing that really concerns me is how upset women get when things aren’t their version of perfect. My one wish is that women would ease up on themselves: there is no perfect and you are strong enough to do this ...just because it’s not your first choice doesn’t mean it has to be terrible xxx

Free online ante natal classes. You can still do them OP.

www.babycentre.co.uk/e1042530/sign-up-for-free-antenatal-classes

If couples have other children, don't risk the health/lives of both parents being in hospital. And frankly, it is a risk in some areas right now.

Poor OP. It's a shock I know but as so many others have said, having a partner there doubles the risk of infection. I'm another one who has given birth alone with just medics present and it was fine. Not scary at all. And many of us became mothers with no previous experience - just a book about the first year of a baby's life and advice from friends /family. You really will be fine.

Women will not be giving birth alone. They will have midwives helping them deliver and doctors to hand.

A lot of women who have sections are not allowed a partner in with them anyway (I wasn't as it is not allowed in the country where I live). I understand the worries but unfortunately this is a crisis situation.