Partners in the hospital birthing pool?

[islandbaby]

Hey all

Are birthing partners usually allowed/encouraged to get in the pool in hospital and mid-wife led units?

Thanks

Not sure but wouldn't have wanted DH in a pool with me - it gets quite icky! Does he really want to be covered in blood etc?

No they aren't IME

You need all the room to yourself I think

Also, a lot of blood can be involved after the birth itself which I don't think partner may want to be in

I think it depends on the hospital, DH would have been allowed to get in the birthing pool with me if I had got that far!

im planning on a birth at the barkantine which is a midwife led birth centre and they encourage it, did make a point of saying he has to wear trunks (we must of had the look of nudists)

I'll show you my birth-pool photos taken 2mins after DS's delivery if you want. That'll put your birth-partner off taking a dip

(clue: floaters)

There are actually blokes out there who actually want to get in the birthing pool?

Some of the hospital birthing pools are more like large baths, so I don't think there would be room.

my DP has watched all the birthing videos and knows all about the blood and to quote notnowbernard 'floaters', he seems so keen on getting in still, my face at birth may put him off never know ! :o

they said that was fine at our hospital

BUT
there is no where for the dps to clean up afterwards! (dh asked if they could use the showers in the birthing suites and was told a very strict NO!) so they go home covered in eugh!!!

dh had no intention of getting in but expected to get a bit grubby/ sweaty/ icky after ... hours of labour so asked about showering facilities.