Is this true about birth partners..?!

[HeinzKetchup]

I'm due to give birth in a few months and really nervous. I alway imagined I'd have my sister with me as well as my bf. however I've just heard that hospitals are only allowing one birth partner!

Is this true?

I live in west London and will be going to Chelsea and west.

Is this general hospital policy now or have I heard wrong?!

Any info of any hospitals would be much appreciated!

It'll depend on the hospital.

My local hospital (not in London) allows 2 birth partners. Birth partners are allowed on the maternity ward (where you actually give birth) at any time of the day or night.

But, as with notcitrus, visiting hours apply once the baby's born and you're moved to the post-natal ward, and birth partners aren't allowed in outside visiting hours, except in exceptional circumstances.

Guntie: that's great to hear so relieved thank u! A d yes maybe see u there lol

I really hope it does bring out the more assertive side of my boyfriend and maybe it will be a good bonding experience

I wish I was brave enough for a home birth! If it wasn't my first I would definitely have considered it. I did in fact suggest it to my sister (she looked at me like I was crazy lol). however my walls are paper thin and don't think I'd be able to face the neighbours after

I had a homebirth.

I think going into hospital is braver...

Was it your first baby?

I had my sis and bf there for birth of ds2 at c&w. didn't arrange it,just the way it worked out on the day - they didn't seem to mind. but then, a woman in labor is not to be argued with...
and DP did go out for a coffee just before things got serious, so i was v pleased sis was there... he got back in time, just!

Yes, Heinz , it was.
I never wanted to go to hospital. It's not that I don't like hospitals, per se, but I knew that if I went into one, I would be out of my own comfort zone, and I was worried about the "Spiral of Intervention" that seems to happen automatically in a hospital birth.
At home, I was boss and I had what I needed.
(and was a lot more free to do what I wanted)
:)

(and transfer in takes just as long as prepping for problems)
I did end up having an episiotomy after DD got her hand in the way of the hole and wouldn't come out.
I was able to push for 3 hours until that happened.
If i'd been in hospital, they would have whipped me out for forceps/ventouse after an hour.
neither of which were necessary

my hospital allowed two birth partners but i only chose to have one. im not sure if that was the case all over the hospital or just in the birth centre part as thats for the non complicated births so didnt need more than one midwife in the room with us.